Untitled - SACR

The starting point from the Kráľova hoľa summit
Climatic
conditions
At the sources of
Slovak rivers
On account of the great differences in altitude, there are as
many as 5 temperature zones within the national park. The
treeless ridges have a harsh climate with average temperatures
of -9°C in January and 7 - 11.5°C in July. The lower mountain
valleys have an average summer temperature of as much as
16°C. From the point of view of winter sports, the slopes that can
be used for the longest period of time are those of Chopok, which
have a covering of snow for up to 130 days in the year.
Avalanches from the steepest slopes of the summits pose a very
serious threat. The snow cover in April and even in May is more
stable and you can experience some fantastic skiing on Chopok
at that time. In summer the weather is very changeable in the Low
Tatras, with frequent local storms, which go as quickly as they
come. For hiking August and September are the most suitable,
when the weather is drier and more settled.
The sporting and tourist activities the slopes and valleys of the Low
Tatras have to offer are primarily downhill and cross-country
skiing, hiking, cycling, mountaineering, rock climbing and
paragliding. The most popular ski resorts are Jasná and Donovaly.
The Low Tatra region provides a vital supply of water. Four
large rivers have their sources on the slopes of Kráľova hoľa
— the Čierny Váh, Hron, Hornád and Hnilec, which is why
the Kráľova hoľa massif is also called "the roof of Slovakia". The
mountain streams, brooks and little rivers actually flow into two
main rivers, the northern slopes of the range being drained by the
longest river in Slovakia, the Váh (403 km) and the southern
slopes by the Hron. In the east, they are helped by the Hnilec.
Near the source of this river a waterfall, Martalúska, cascades
down the Kráľova hoľa hillside. A similar original natural
phenomenon, 30 metres of foaming cascades is to be found in
Vajskovská dolina, one of the longest valleys in the southern
slopes of the Low Tatras. The original technical facilities for
transporting wood down the river have been restored on the
Vajskovský potok.
Many rivers flow underground through the karst landscape, later
surfacing as large springs, especially in the Demänovská and
Jánska valleys. In addition to the sources of drinking water, there
are a number of mineral springs. Health resorts have been
established in Korytnica and Liptovský Ján. Refreshing, pleasanttasting
springs also bubble out of the ground near Moštenice,
Hiadeľ, Jasenie, Mýto pod Ďumbierom, Jarabá, Beňuš, Bacúch,
Liptovská Lúžna, Ludrová, Liptovská Štiavnica, Liptovské Sliače,
Vyšná Boca and Malužiná. In contrast to the High Tatras, the Low
Tatras have few natural lakes. One exception is Vrbické pleso in
Demänovská dolina, which covers 6.2 hectares and lies at an
altitude of 1113 metres above sea level.
Korytnica, a part of Liptovská osada, surrounded by steep hills
with deep coniferous, (mainly spruce) forests, is the highest
located Slovak health resort (825 m). Mineral water
springs from the ground at an altitude of 850 m. The
ferrous, gypseous acidulous mineral water is often compared
to the springs in the Czech town of Karlove Vary and Vichy
in France. In the form of tub baths and drinking cures it
has a positive effect on digestive and metabolic disorders
and disorders of the endocrine glands. Korytnica mineral
water won a gold medal at the World Exhibition as
early as 1873 and in 1904 a silver medal in Saint Louis
in the USA. Korytnica mineral water with its characteristic
taste is bottled to this day and is available in the shops.
The tarn of Vrbické pleso
Pages 6-7
THE LOW TATRAS