Project: The High Tatras

The town of High Tatras is a central part of The Tatra National Park (Tanap) which covers an area of 74,111 hectacres. It is the oldest and largest national park in the Slovak Republic. The National Park encompasses the three mountain ranges of the region, The High Tatras, The Western Tatras and Belianske Tatras (The White Tatras). he National Park was established in 1949 as a direct result of prolonged effort of leading Slovak enviromentalists who strove to save one of most beautiful and most valuable natural resorts in central Europe for the future generations. In terms of geomorphology, High Tatras with its 24 peaks higher than 2.500 m above sea level provide the only mountains with an Alpine character in the whole of the 1.200 km length of the Carpathian Mountain range. In order to protect the fragile environment visits to the natural park area are strictly regulated and visitors are obliged to use only the marked hiking and ski trails provided by the PaRK Authorities. All main trails open to hikers visiting the tatras are only open to the public between the 15th June until the 31st of October. Despite these restrictions however, there is open access for walkers to the many mountain chalets and hotels.

The Town of High Tatras is situated in the protected area of the Tatra National Park and it has not been possible to develop tourist amenities to the full form. However, in the vicinity of the Tatras there are the two historical regions of Spis and Liptov. Closely related to the tatra mountains and settlements, a visit to the tatras would not be complete without a visit to the complementary attractions of these locations. Spis and Liptov have an interconnecting relationship with the mountains and the wonder of the architectural and natural delights provides the visitor with a wider perspective about the life and history of the region. And the tourist does not have to travel long distances to sample these enchanting loactions as they are only a one-hour journey by car from Stary Smokovec. Also to be found within easy reach of Stary Smokovec the visitor can relax in an exciting experience rafting down the Dunajec river which provides the country's northern border with Poland. Visitors should not miss visiting the gothic sights of Spiš region or the thermal pools in Besenová and Vrbov or the traditonal Slovak village museum in Pribilina or the open air museum of wooden sculptures in Vychodna as well as the limestone - Slovak Paradise and natural caves of Demanova, or willage Zdiar - traditional folk architecture.

The town of High Tatras was founded in 1947 and it has a population of 5,000 residents. The Administrative centre of the town is Stary Smokovec, which together with Tatranska Lomnica and Strbske Pleso provides the focal point for one of the three most important Tatra tourist resorts. High Tatras covers an area of 398 square km and is one of the largest cities in the Slovak republic. It is located in the central part of the High Tatras mountain range and is comprised of the original fifteen independent settlements that have gradually evolved into one integrated unit. The central transport link for the town is based upon the "Cesta Slobody" road which connects the western Tatra settlement of Podbanske with Tatranska Kotlina in the east. This transport link joins all of the other tatra setlements with the exception of Dolny Smokovec