The Tatras National Park (TANAP)
The High Tatras form part of the Carpathian range that stretches from Romania to the Czech Republic in a huge arc. At the northernmost end of this arc are the High Tatras, the highest and most imposing of the Carpathian peaks - indeed these are the highest mountains between the Alps and the Caucasus. The massif rises steeply from the surrounding areas making it one of the most photogenic mountain ranges in the world.
The unique nature of the range and the alpine and sub-alpine ecosystems that it harbours are the reasons for the formation of The High Tatras National Park (Tatransky Narodny Park), Slovakia's first national park, in 1948. In 1954 the Tatra National Park (Tatranski Park Narodowy) was formed on the Polish side of the border, creating a cross-border protected area. UNESCO acknowledged the uniqueness of the Tatras in 1993 by giving them international biosphere reserve status.
The park covers about 740 square kilometres and contains over 25 peaks that are over 2500 metres above sea level. In addition due to past glaciation the area contains over 100 mountain lakes (also known as 'tarn', or 'pleso' in Slovak). On clear days you can stand on the highest peaks in the west and see the end of the range in the east and it is this relative isolation that has led to such a diverse flora and fauna.
Much of the original fauna of old Europe is still present in these mountains. Predators such as bear, lynx, wild cat, two species of marten, wolf and fox still occur here in good numbers indicating that the ecosystem is very healthy. Red and roe deer are plentiful and on the high peaks the endemic subspecies of chamois and marmot are a Tatras speciality. The golden eagle, capercaillie and wallcreeper are three of the bird species that live here and together with the mammals make up a total of about 170 vertebrate species.
High Tatras National Park is a unique place where several significant eco-zones are found together characterised by vegetational gradation; or the change in species with increased altitude. There are quite distinct vegetation zones that result in there being over 1300 recorded plant species; of these about 40 species are found nowhere else in Europe or the world. Also present are some of the last remaining stands of virgin mountain forest within Europe.
Within the Tatras National Park, there are two stunning areas inaccessible to tourists because of their wildlife sensitivity - the Belianske and Western Tatras. It is within these areas that Project Bear will conduct its research with TANAP and operate its unique and exciting tours. The scenery is some of the most beautiful in Europe and the opportunity to study and track wildlife is second to nowhere on the continent. It is here in this national park that we hope to develop a model for truly sensitive wildlife-oriented tourism that will one day be found across Europe
The Slovak Paradise National Park
This park is located to the south-east of the High Tatras. It covers an area of 198 square km with a buffer zone of 130 square km.
It is renowned for its impressively deep gorges and canyons, (150 Ð 450m deep), formed by water erosion through the limestone and dolomite rocks.
The best known gorges include Sucha Bela, Piecky, Sokol and Kysel which all boast impressive waterfalls. The highest point is Mt. Javorina (1186m).
Almost all the area is covered by limestone beech and spruce forests. The habitat protects numerous rare plant species including the blue Alpine daisy,
spring gentian, globe flower, bellflower and buttercup.
The area is rich in wildlife including wolves, bears, lynx, eagle owl, black stork and others. In Slovak Paradise there are almost 200 caves;
the ice cave, Dobsinska ladova jaskyna, listed by UNESCO, has been open to the public since 1972. In 1972 a 21km long cave called Stratenska
jaskyna was discovered - the largest cave in Slovakia.
Lovers of adventure may like to hike along the Prielom Hornadu (the river Horn?d canyon). It is a 16km long section of the upper reaches of
the river Hornad from the mouth of the stream, Velka Biela voda, down to Smizany. The river Hornad has created here a canyon-like
valley with slopes falling from side ridges and summits which create more than a 300m altitude difference in some parts.
This trail is equipped with 7 iron bridges and benches, almost 300m of chains on steep rocky walls, 140 metal rungs and almost 70m of wooden rails.
The trail along the Prielom Hornadu is one of the most beautiful spots in the national park.
Stunning Slovakia has its own cottage inside the Slovak Paradise Park in an area with no tourist activities. This place is our starting point for
hikes into areas with the highest level of environmental protection. For neighbours we often have a pack of wolves, red and roe deer and wild boars,
all of which have a home of this area and are regularly spotted close to the cottage.
The Low Tatras National Park
Most of the Low Tatras is protected by the Low Tatras National Park (Narodny park Nizke Tatry; abbr. NAPANT), established in 1978.
The area of the National Park is 728 square km with a buffer zone of 1,102 square km. Its main mountain ridge, running from west to east,
is approximately 100 km long. In the western part of the national park is Dumbierske Tatry with its highest peak, Dumbier, being 2043m.
The eastern part is dominated by the Kralova Hola mountain at 1948m. The northern slopes are steep with rocky outcrops and glacial kettles.
Over the course of thousands of years water has gouged out an entire underground world. Among the caves open to the public are
Demanovska cave of freedom, Demanovska ice cave, Bystrianska cave, Cave of the Dead Bats and Vazecka cave. The longest cave is Demanovska cave of freedom
at 23 km.
The large and well-preserved forest ecosystem offers a wonderful environment for large mammals such as the wolf, brown bear and Eurasian lynx.
There are estimated to be 100 - 150 brown bears in the Low Tatras.
