Malá Fatra

Malá Fatra
Malá Fatra

The main ridge of the Kriváň part of Malá Fatra
Highest point
Peak Veľký Kriváň
Elevation 1,709 m (5,607 ft)
Coordinates 49°11′16″N 19°01′51″E / 49.18769°N 19.03088°E / 49.18769; 19.03088
Geography
Country Slovakia
States/Provinces Žilina and Trenčín
Districts Ružomberok, Turčianske Teplice and Žilina
Range coordinates 49°10′N 19°00′E / 49.17°N 19°E / 49.17; 19Coordinates: 49°10′N 19°00′E / 49.17°N 19°E / 49.17; 19
Parent range Fatra-Tatra Area

Malá Fatra (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈmalaː ˈfatra]; also Little Fatra or Lesser Fatra, Polish: Mała Fatra) is a mountain range in the Western Carpathians in the north-west of Central Slovakia. In the geomorphological system, it is a part of the Fatra-Tatra Area.[1][2][3]

It is situated approximately between the cities of Nitrianske Pravno, Strečno, Martin and Zázrivá. Turčianska kotlina (Turiec Basin) and the Oravská vrchovina Mts. are situated to the west of the range, and Žilinská kotlina (Žilina Basin) and the Kysucká vrchovina Mts. is located to the east.

Malá Fatra consists of two subdivisions separated by the Váh river near Strečno:

The highest peak is Veľký Kriváň at 1,709 m AMSL in Krivánska Malá Fatra.

Malá Fatra is basically one big karst object. It is made up of crystalline rocks and complexes of Mesozoic strongly folded rocks.

The main peaks of Lúčanská Malá Fatra are Veľká Lúka (1,475 m), Kľak (1,351 m) and Minčol (1,364). The main peaks of the Krivánska Malá Fatra are Veľký Rozsutec (1,610 m), Malý Rozsutec (1,343 m), Veľký Kriváň (1,709 m) and Malý Kriváň (1,671 m).

The 12 km long pass between Krivánska Malá Fatra and Lúčanská Malá Fatra separated by the Váh is called Strečnianska tiesňava (Strečno Pass), located below the ruins of the famous Strečno Castle. The Dierový potok stream created a complex of canyons, waterfalls and cascades in that area. Šútovo Waterfall (Šútovský vodopád ) is the highest waterfall in Malá Fatra and has a vertical drop of 38 m.

Popular centres for winter sports are Vrátna dolina and Štefanová. Other tourism centres are the villages of Terchová, where the Slovak national hero Juraj Jánošík was born and Zázrivá, where the traditional Slovak sheep cheese delicacy known as korbáčiky is made. One of the most popular ski areas in Slovakia outside the Tatras is the Martinské hole resort situated between the Veľká lúka Mountain and the town of Martin.

Krivánska Malá Fatra is protected by the Malá Fatra National Park.

In addition, Malá Fatra includes the following small-scale protection areas:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lonely Planet Czech & Slovak Republics Lisa Dunford, Brett Atkinson 2010 Page 57 "Central Slovakia ranges include the Low Tatras, reaching about 2000m, and the Malá Fatra and Veľká Fatra. Slovakia faces the Czech Republic across the modest White Carpathians."
  2. ↑ Frommer's Eastern Europe 2009 Contents: "Western Slovakia & the Malá Fatra p.626-629; Malá Fatra National Park p630"
  3. ↑ Craig Stephen Cravens Culture And Customs of the Czech Republic And Slovakia 2006 Page 3 "Two smaller ranges forming part of the Tatras are the Malá Fatra and the Vel'ká Fatra. Another popular region for outdoor enthusiasts is Slovenský Raj, literally Slovak Paradise, an area of exceptional natural beauty, and of rare flora and fauna."
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