Western Tatras


The Western Tatras are mountains in the Tatras, part of the Carpathian Mountains, located on the Polish-Slovak borders. The mountains border the High Tatras in the east, Podtatranská kotlina in the south, Choč Mountains in the west and Rów Podtatrzański in the north. The main ridge is 37 kilometers long and the mountain range contains 31 two-thousanders.
Western Tatras are the second highest mountain range both in Poland and Slovakia; its highest peak is Bystrá at 2,248 meters. Other notable mountains include Jakubiná, Baranec, Baníkov, Tri kopy, Plačlivé, Ostrý Roháč, Volovec, Kasprowy Wierch and Giewont. In Slovakia, they are partially located in the traditional regions of Liptov and Orava. The highest point in Poland is Starorobociański Wierch.
All visitors to the Western Tatras area in Slovakia are obliged since July 1, 2006 to cover all costs of their rescue by the Mountain Rescue Service. Visitors are prohibited from leaving the marked tourist routes, sleeping in the mountains or setting fire are strictly prohibited.

Division

The Western Tatras are subdivided into 6 regions on the Slovak side and 4 on the Polish side.
Slovak Western Tatras:
Polish Western Tatras:
The Western Tatras are protected by Tatranský národný park in Slovakia and Tatrzański Park Narodowy in Poland.

Peaks

The following is a list of the highest 10 of the 31 two-thousanders in Western Tatras:
ImageSlovak namePolish nameHeightLocation & Notes
BystráBystraLiptovské Tatry, the highest peak in Slovak Western Tatras
JakubináRaczkowa Czuba
BaranecBaraniec
BaníkovBanówkaHighest point on the main ridge
KlinStarorobociański WierchMain ridge, the highest peak in Polish Western Tatras
PachoľaPacholaMain ridge
Hrubá kopaHruba KopaMain ridge
BlyšťBłyszczBystrá ridge
PríslopJałowiecki Przysłop
Hrubý vrchJarząbczy Wierch

Saddles (cols)

There are approximately 20 to 32 tarns in Western Tatras. The exact number is difficult to obtain because of lack of an exact definition and because it is sometimes hard to prove what is a tarn and what is not. The following is a list of 15 largest tarns in Western Tatras:
ImageSlovak namePolish nameHeight Area Depth
Dolné Roháčske plesoNiżni Staw Rohacki15632.226.3
Horné Roháčske plesoWyżni Staw Rohacki17181.458.1
Dolné Jamnícke plesoNiżni Jamnicki Staw17281.134.0
Horné Bystré plesoWielki Staw Bystry18750.8612.5
Horné Račkovo plesoZadni Staw Raczkowy17170.7410.0
Tretie Roháčske plesoPośredni Rohacki Staw16530.613.7
Horné Jamnícke plesoWyżni Jamnicki Staw18340.418.0
Spodné Bystré plesoNiżni Staw Bystry18370.344.0
Pleso pod ZverovkouStawek pod Zwierówką9830.311.2
Ťatliakovo plesoCzarna Młaka13700.281.2
Druhé Roháčske plesoMały Rohacki Staw16500.281.3
Horné Tomanovo plesoWyżni Tomanowy Stawek15920.191.0
Žiarske pleso18600.110.8
Kobylie plesoKobyli Stawek17420.101.5
Biele Bobrovecké plesoBiały Stawek Bobrowiecki15020.101.5

Caves

There are four tourist centers inside the Western Tatras area: Zverovka, Brestová and Ťatliakova chata in the northern region and Žiarska chata in the southern region. All other tourist centers lie at the outside borders of the mountains, including: Oravice, Zuberec, Bobrovecká vápenica, Žiar, Konská, Jakubovany-Studená dolina, Pribylina, Podbanské.