Dolina Kościeliska

Dolina Kościeliska
	Hikers in the valley
location	Lesser Poland Voivodeship , Poland
Waters	Kościeliski Potok
Mountains	Western Tatras , Tatra , Carpathians
Geographical location	49 ° 15 '0 " N , 19 ° 50' 57" E Coordinates: 49 ° 15 '0 " N , 19 ° 50' 57" E
height	927 to 2159 m npm
length	9 km
climate	High mountain climate

Middle gate

Kościeliski Potok

Bystra (highest peak of the Western Tatras ) and Błyszcz from the valley

The Dolina Kościeliska , formed by glaciers in the Ice Age, is a valley in the Polish Western Tatras in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship .

geography

The valley is around nine kilometers long and surrounded by mountains over 2159 meters high. a. the Błyszcz massif . It has an area of about 35 square kilometers. The valley extends to the main ridge of the Tatra Mountains.

The valley falls from south to north from about 2159 meters to 927 meters. The Kościeliski Potok flows through it. The waters of the valley partly flow underground. The valley opens in the lecture trench in the area of the Kościelisko Kiry district , which is located in the lower part of the valley.

The valley has numerous side valleys, including:

There are three rock gates in the valley : Niżnia Kościeliska Brama , Pośrednia Kościeliska Brama and Wyżnia Kościeliska Brama . There are numerous caves and other karst phenomena. Many of the caves in the valley are open to tourists, including Jaskinia Mroźna , Smocza Jama , Jaskinia Mylna , Jaskinia Raptawicka and Jaskinia Obłazkowa .

etymology

The name can be translated as "valley of Kościelisko". The name comes from the place Kościelisko , in which the valley is located. Its name can in turn be translated as the "Kirchheim" or the "Kirchenheim".

Flora and fauna

The valley lies above and below the tree line and is covered with mountain pines in the upper area and coniferous forest in the lower area. The valley is a retreat for numerous mammals and bird species.

climate

There is a high mountain climate in the valley.

economy

Silver, copper and antimony were mined in the valley as early as the 15th century. Iron ore was added from the 18th century. In the valley, the place around the hut Stare Kościeliska arose . The name of Kościelisko and the valley comes from the church in the village. Gangs of robbers lived in the valley. During the Second World War and in early Stalinism, resistance fighters withdrew to the valley.

Before the Tatra National Park was established in 1954, the valley was used for alpine farming. After that, the owners of the alpine pastures were expropriated or forced to sell. Former alpine huts are still in the valley.

tourism

Numerous hiking trails lead through the valley from the surrounding mountain passes and peaks.

▬ a red marked hiking trail from the valley to the Ciemniak and further over the main gorge to the High Tatras

▬ Ścieżka nad Reglami : a black-marked trail from the valley in the Zakopane area Kuźnice

▬ a black-marked hiking trail from the valley to Przysłop Kominiarski

▬ a black trail from the valley to the Jaskinia Mroźna cave

▬ a blue hiking trail from the valley to the Hala Stoły mountain pasture

▬ a yellow trail from the valley across the Wąwóz Kraków gorgeto the Smocza Jama cave

▬ a black trail from the valley to the Jaskinia Raptawicka cave

▬ a red trail from the valley to the Jaskinia Obłazkowa and Jaskinia Mylna caves

▬ a black trail from the valley to the mountain lake Smreczyński Staw

▬ a green marked hiking trail from the valley to the Ciemniak

▬ a yellow hiking trail from the valley to the Dolina Chochołowska

Horse-drawn carriages run in the valley in summer and sleighs in winter.

In the valley there is a refuge, the Ornak hut .

There are several chapels and crosses in the valley, including the robber chapel and the Krzyż Pola cross .

literature

Zofia Radwańska-Paryska, Witold Henryk Paryski, Wielka encyklopedia tatrzańska , Poronin, Wyd. Górskie, 2004, ISBN 83-7104-009-1 .
Tatry Wysokie słowackie i polskie. Mapa turystyczna 1: 25.000, Warszawa, 2005/06, Polkart ISBN 83-87873-26-8 .

Web links

Commons : Dolina Kościeliska - collection of images, videos and audio files

panorama

Panorama from the Hala Stoły mountain pasture