Tatra Mountains forms the highest and most beautiful section of the Carpathian mountain
range. The main Tatra ridge runs from west to east, about 51 kilometers
as the crow flies. In width, this whole chain is barely 18 km. It occupies
an area of about 800 sq. km. In regards to type of landscape and type of rock,
Tatras may be divided into three parts: the Western Tatras, the High
Tatras and the Bielskie Tatras. Bielskie Tatras and a part of Western Tatras
are built of limestone. The highest part, the High Tatras, with the highest
peak of all Tatras The Gerlach (2654,4 m) are built of crystal rocks
like granite. The Tatras are divided between two countries: Poland and
Slovakia. Four fifth of the entire Tatras area with highest peaks lies
in Slovakia, but most interesting caves are situated in Poland in limestone
of Western Tatras. The highest limestone peak in Western Tatras is Krzesanica (2122,3 m).
With other three: Kopa Kondracka (2004,6 m), Malolaczniak (2095,6 m) and
Ciemniak (2096,3 m) creates the massif called Czerwone Wierchy (Red Peaks).
Under this massif are located several major cave systems. The water from this
caves flows out by the Lodowe Zrodlo (Icy Spring) situated
in the Koscieliska Valley on the altitude of 973,5 m. This is the deepest
and largest hydrological system in Poland which is limiting the biggest
depth of possible cave depth into about 1100 m.
Western Tatras are with no doubt the main region of caving activity in Poland.
There are more than 650 caves known in Western Tatras with total length more than 100 km.
All deepest and longest caves of Poland are situated in Tatras.
Most of area of Tatras is protected in form of national parks: Tatrzanski Park Narodowy in Poland (emblem of park on the left)
and Tarzanski Narodni Park in Slovakia. All decribed caves lies in the teritory of TPN and can't be visited without
permission of TPN. Excepitons are Mylna, Mrozna and four small objects: Raptawicka, Oblazkowa, Smocza Jama and Dziura; which are
touristic caves.
Longest Tatras caves | Deepest Tatras caves |
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EPIMENIDES CAVE PAGE: http://panda.bg.univ.gda.pl/~dbart