High Tatras

The Tatra Mountains (pronounced ), Tatras, or Tatra (Tatry either in Slovak (pronounced [ˈtatri]) or in Polish (pronounced [ˈtatrɨ]) - plurale tantum), are a series of mountains within the Western Carpathians that form a natural border between Slovakia and Poland. They are the highest mountains in the Carpathians. The Tatras are distinct from the Low Tatras (Slovak: Nízke Tatry), a separate Slovak mountain range further south. The Tatra Mountains occupy an area of 785 square kilometres (303 sq mi), of which about 610 square kilometres (236 sq mi) (77.7%) lie within Slovakia and about 175 square kilometres (68 sq mi) (22.3%) within Poland. The highest peak, called Gerlachovský štít, at 2,655 m (8710 ft), is located north of Poprad, entirely in Slovakia. The highest point in Poland, Rysy, at 2,499 m (8200 ft), is located south of Zakopane, on the border with Slovakia.The Tatras' length, measured from the eastern foothills of the Kobylí vrch (1109 m) to the southwestern foot of Ostrý vrch (1128 m), in a straight line, is 57 km (35 mi) (or 53 km (33 mi) according to some), and strictly along the main ridge, 80 km (50 mi). The range is only 19 km (12 mi) wide. The main ridge of the Tatras runs from the village of Huty at the western end to the village of Ždiar at the eastern end. The Tatras are now protected by law by the establishment of the Tatra National Park, Slovakia and the Tatra National Park, Poland, which are jointly entered in UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves. In 1992, UNESCO jointly designated the Polish and Slovak parks a transboundary biosphere reserve in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, under its Man and the Biosphere Programme.

The Fatra-Tatra Area (in geomorphology) or the Tatra-Fatra Belt of core mountains (in geology) is a part of the Inner Western Carpathians, a subprovince of the Western Carpathians. Most of the area lies in Slovakia with small parts reaching into Austria and Poland. The highest summit of the whole Carpathians, the Gerlachovský štít at 2,655 m (8,711 ft), lies in the High Tatras range which belongs to this area. The Fatra-Tatra Area is from the northern side bounded by Pieniny Klippen Belt. Mountains of the area are located in two ranges. The external range consists of Hainburg Hills, Malé Karpaty (Pezinok part), Považský Inovec, Strážovské vrchy, Malá Fatra, Tatras (Western, High and Belianske Tatry). Inner range consists of Tribeč, Žiar, Veľká Fatra, Chočské vrchy, Ďumbier part of Nízke Tatry and massif of Smrekovica in the Branisko. The southern boundary of Area is the Čertovica line, south of which is the Vepor Belt. The Tatra-Fatra Belt consists of Tatric alpine crystalline basement and its autochthonous sedimentary cover, over which the Subtatric nappes (Fatric and Hronic) were thrust.The name core mountains is derived from the structural element, resistant crystalline basement rocks, preserved in the core of horsts, often forming the highest peaks of the mountains.

The Western Carpathians are a mountain range and geomorphological province that forms the western part of the Carpathian Mountains. The mountain belt stretches from the Low Beskids range of the Eastern Carpathians along the border of Poland with Slovakia toward the Moravian region of the Czech Republic and the Austrian Weinviertel. In the south the North Hungarian Mountains cover northern Hungary. The area of the Western Carpathians comprises about 70,000 km². The highest elevation is the Gerlachovský štít (2,655m).

Gerlachovský štít (Slovak pronunciation , translated into English as Gerlachov Peak, German: Gerlsdorfer Spitze, Hungarian: Gerlachfalvi-csúcs), informally referred to as Gerlach, is the highest peak in the High Tatras, in Slovakia, and in the Carpathian Mountains. Its elevation is usually listed at 2654.4 m above mean sea level. The pyramidal shape of the massif is marked by a huge cirque. Despite its relatively low elevation, Gerlachovský štít features a vertical rise of approximately 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above the valley floor.Mistaken for an average mountain in the rugged High Tatras range in the more distant past, it has since played a symbolic role in the eyes of the rulers and populations of several Central European nations, to the point that between the 19th and mid-20th century, it had four different names with six name reversals. Due to geopolitical changes, it managed to be the highest mountain of the Kingdom of Hungary, and of Czechoslovakia, Slovakia and then Czechoslovakia again within the span of less than three decades of the 20th century. Gerlachovský štít shares its geology and ecology with the rest of the High Tatras, but provides a worthwhile environment for biologists as the highest ground anywhere in Europe north of the parallel approximately linking Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna. With the travel restrictions imposed by the Eastern Bloc, the mountain was particularly treasured by Czechs, East Germans, Hungarians, Poles, and Slovaks as the loftiest point available for them to climb. Although local authorities have since restricted access to the peak, it continues to attract its share of visitors.

Gerlachovská veža is a mountain in the Northern ridge Zadni Gerlach in the main ridge of the Slovak High Tatras. From Veľká Litvorová veža it is separated by Nižná Gerlachovská lávka, and from the Malá Litvorová veža the mountain is bounded by Vyšná Lučivnianska lávka. At the top of the mountain there are no marked trails for tourists, only Taterniks are able to gain access to the top of the peak. In the direction of the Velická Valley, the mountain falls to the ridge. Towards to the Kačacia Valley the mountain forms a spectacular rib shaped rock when joining the valley.

Batizovský štít (pol. Batyżowiecki Szczyt, ger. Botzdorfer Spitze, hung. Batizfalvi csúcs) is a 2,448 metres high double peak mountain in High Tatras in Slovakia. Batizovský štít, just like Batizovská dolina, Batizovské pleso or the village Batizovce are named after the local 13th century aristocrat Batiz (Botiz) from the Mariáš dynasty, who used to be the owner of Mengusovská or Batizovská dolina and established the village of Batizovce. Batizovský štít isn't accessible for tourists by a marked trail, but trail passes around the Batizovské pleso lake under the mountain. The solid rock makes it one of the best climbing spots in High Tatras containing dozens of routes in different grades of difficulty. You can however find an official tourist trail leading close to the peak, offering astonishing views to Gerlachovský štít, Končistá and Kačací štít.

The Eastern Tatras form part of the European Tatra Mountains range in Poland and Slovakia. The term is rarely used, with the area more commonly referred to as the High Tatras and the Belianske Tatras (Slovak: Belianske Tatry) ranges.

Končistá is a mountain in the Tatra Mountains, Slovakia.

Slavkovský štít is the fourth highest mountain peak that can be reached on a marked trail in the High Tatra mountains in Slovakia. Its summit is 2452 metres above sea level. It can be reached by foot on a walking trail in about four and a half hours from Starý Smokovec. The first recorded ascent was by Juraj Buchholtz in 1664 and it took the group of 12 members 2 days, while only 4 of them reached the summit.In 19th century it was considered to build Observatory and Meteorological Station on the summit together with a lift going up from Starý Smokovec. The project turned out to be technically unrealistic.

Popradské pleso (once called Rybie pleso) is a mountain lake of glacial origin located in the High Tatras, Slovakia. It is situated right on the Tatranská magistrála hiking path, at an altitude of 1,494 metres (4,902 ft). Popradské pleso is one of the most visited spots in High Tatras and a starting point for many popular hikes including to Rysy and Kôprovský štít. Near to the lake there is Symbolic Cemetery, built in a memory of the victims of the High Tatras. Drone video of Popradské pleso

Ľadový štít (translated into English as Ice Peak; Hungarian: Jég-völgyi-csúcs, literally, Ice Valley Peak) is the third highest of the Tatra Mountains, in Slovakia, and in the whole 1,500 km (930 mi) long Carpathian mountain chain, as well as in northern and eastern Central Europe.

Štôla is a village and small municipality in Poprad District in the Prešov Region of northern Slovakia. It lies on the foothills of High Tatras.