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report on the Polish Sudety.
The Carpathians are a long mountain range curved in the shape of
a horseshoe. The total length of the range, measuring from the River
Danube near Bratislava to the River Danube near The Iron Gate, amounts
to 1300 km. The area of the core massif is equal to 209.000 sq. km
(source: J. Kondracki, Karpaty, Warszawa 1978).
The highest peak is located in the Tatra Mountains and is one of the
European Ultras (Gierlach, 2655m/2355m). Other Ultras are located in
Romania: Paringul Mare 2519m/2103m, Varful Moldoveanu 2544m/2046m and
Varful Peleaga 2509m/1759m.
Generally the mountain range is divided into three main parts:
1. The Western Carpathians: located
in Slovakia, Poland and Hungary (between Bratislava and Łupkowska Pass)
with the highest peak Gierlach (2655m) in Slovakia.
2. The Eastern Carpathians: located
in Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine and Romania (between Łupkowska Pass and
Predeal Pass) with the highest peak Pietros (2305m) in Romania.
3. The Southern Carpathians:
located wholly in Romania (between Predeal Pass and The Iron Gate) with
the highest peak Moldoveanu (2544m).
The attached prominence list refers to the Polish part of the range.
The Polish Carpathians cover an area of approx. 20.000 sq. km (which
equates to approx. 10% of the whole area of the range) and are almost
300 km long (in W-E direction) and 50-100 km wide (in N-S direction).
In the west the area borders on The Czech Republic, in the south on
Slovakia and partly on Ukraine and in the east on Ukraine. The northern
border is estimated to be at approx. 50°N.
The attached prominence list shows
all summits on which the highest point lies wholly in Poland or on the
Polish border. Therefore in the list one cannot find the highest peak
in Poland (Rysy 2500m/160m in the Tatra Mountains) because the main
summit is located in Slovakia 100 m. off the border. The highest point
in Poland is a lower NW summit of Rysy (2499m) with approx. 10m. of
prominence value. A similar situation occurs in relation to Kamienista
(2127m/335m) in the Tatra Mountains and Pilsko (1557m/748m) in Beskid
Żywiecki.
The list contains 339 peaks with prominence value equal to at least
100m. Half of them have prominence not greater than 150m. The most
prominent is Diablak (HP Babia Góra) 1725m/1075m and the highest
one is Mięguszowiecki Szczyt (2432m/207m). 87 peaks on the list have
altitude higher than 1000m.
For each peak the following information is provided:
1. Peak – official name, with the
part in italics and inverted commas added by the author in order to
avoid duplicated names; if the whole name is in italics and inverted
commas (4 examples), it refers to a nameless hill. Disclaimer: the
author does not intend to propose new names.
2. Height – taken from the Source
Map.
3. Prominence – the difference
between Height and Key Col Height.
4. Key Col – name of the Key Col,
with the part in italics and inverted commas added by the author in
order to avoid duplicated names; if the whole name is in italics, it
refers to the nearest named point (as a short description of the
location; note: “pod”=below a named peak, “nad”=over a village).
5. Col Height – taken from the
Source Map, if in italics estimated from contour lines.
6. Prominence Parent – name of the
Prominence Parent (a higher and more prominent neighbour).
7. Latitude – rounded to 5’’
(exception: Tatry), if in italics this might be inaccurate due to lack
of a precise grid.
8. Longitude – rounded to 5’’
(exception: Tatry), if in italics this might be inaccurate due to lack
of a precise grid.
9. Source Map – a map described in
the additional list as being a source for the prominence calculation.
10. Country – PL: wholly in Poland, PL/CZ: Czech border,
PL/SK: Slovak border, PL/UA: Ukrainian border.
11. Group – part of the geographical massif, if in italics
introduced by the author for more precision.
12. Massif – official name of the massif, mostly based on
Kondracki, op.cit. (see: “List of divergences”).
List of divergences with Kondracki
1. Pasemko Pawelskie, Pasmo
Laskowskie and Pasmo Jałowieckie are included with Beskid Żywiecki, not
with Beskid Makowski (according to the prevailing current opinion).
2. Skoruszyna, Pogórze
Gubałowskie and Pogórze Spiskie are joined just for the purposes
of this working paper in „Pogórze Podtatrzańskie”.
3. “Pogórze Beskidzkie” has
been created to group all hills located in the northern
“Pre-Carpathian” area.
32 maps where used to estimate the official name, prominence and
geographical location of a peak. In the list of the maps one can see
the scale and contour lines grid utilised for the estimation of key col
heights (this allows for the assessing of the maximum error of a
calculation).
The peaks on the list belong to 14 geographical massifs (not
orographical ones). Their characteristics are briefly described below.
Beskid Śląski
The western part of the Polish Beskidy, located mainly in high Olza and
Vistula basins. The northern hilly area is known as Pogórze
Cieszyńskie (between Olza and Wisła). On the Main European Watershed,
the limits of the massif are located in the Jabłonkowska Pass (border
with Moravske Beskidy) and Zwardońska Pass (border with Beskid
Żywiecki).
The highest and the most prominent peak: Skrzyczne (1257m/585m).
Number of P100m summits: 21.
Beskid Mały
This compact and low massif is divided into two sections by the Soła
gorge. The Czupel group (Pasmo Magurki) in the west is orographically
connected with Beskid Śląski and the Łamana Skała group (Góry
Zasolskie) in the east is orographically connected with Beskid Żywiecki.
The highest and the most prominent peak: Czupel “Wilkowicki”
(933m/523m).
Number of P100m summits: 13.
Beskid Żywiecki
This broad massif is the highest part of Beskidy on the Polish-Slovak
border. The limits of the massif are located in the Zwardońska Pass
(border with Beskid Śląski) and Sieniawska Pass (border with Gorce).
The highest and the most prominent peak: Diablak (HP Babia Góra,
1725m/1075m).
Number of P100m summits: 36.
Pogórze Podtatrzańskie
A broad group of low hills located in the plain basins of the Orava
(which hydrographically belongs to Black Sea) and high Dunajec, cut by
the Polish–Slovak border at the both ends. The hills are mostly not
connected orographically. In the north the region borders on Beskid
Żywiecki, Gorce and Pieniny, in the south it is connected with Tatry
and Magura Spiska. In the NW part of the region a low col on the Main
European Watershed joins the Tatra Mts. with the Babia Góra
group.
The highest and the most prominent peaks: Skoruszyna 1314m/374m in
Slovakia and Magura Witowska 1232m/270m in Poland.
Number of P100m summits in the Polish part: 3.
Tatry
The highest part of The Carpathians, with an alpine character, high
rocky faces and numerous snowy gullies. This range is described in
detail in the chapter referring to the Crown of the Tatra (list of 73
P100m in the whole range, http://www.peaklist.org/WWlists/euro600/tatra/Tatra.html).
See also notes in the beginning of this chapter.
The highest and the most prominent peak: Gierlach (2655m/2255m) in
Slovakia.
The highest P100m in Poland: Mięguszowiecki Szczyt (2432m/207m), the
most prominent in the Polish Tatra: Kominiarski Wierch (1829m/370m).
Number of P100m summits in Poland: 19.
Beskid Makowski
A broad massif of low hills located in the northern part of Beskidy
close to a city of Kraków. The northern hilly area is known as
Pogórze Wielickie (between Skawa and Raba). The borders are
located on Skawa river in the west and Raba river in the east with the
two exceptions:
(i)
Lubomir, the most prominent peak, is not orographically connected with
the region as it lies on the eastern riverside of Raba
(ii)
Luboń group, which geographically is a part of Beskid Wyspowy (despite
being located on the western riverside of Raba).
The highest and the most prominent peak: Lubomir (904m/349m).
Number of P100 summits: 18.
Gorce
A compact massif in the central part of Beskidy range. The limits of
the massif are located in the Sieniawska Pass (border with Beskid
Żywiecki), Snozka Pass (border with Pieniny) and Przysłop Pass (border
with Beskid Wyspowy).
The highest and the most prominent peak: Turbacz (1315m/605m).
Number of P100 summits: 7.
Beskid Wyspowy
A broad mountain group built up with characteristic cone-shaped hills.
Located north of Gorce, between Raba river in the west and Dunajec
river in the east with the two exceptions:
(i)
Luboń Wielki, the most prominent peak, is not orographically connected
with the region as it lies on the western riverside of Raba
(ii)
Lubomir group, which belongs geographically to Beskid Makowski (despite
being located on the eastern riverside of Raba).
The hilly area in the north is called Pogórze Wiśnickie and is
located between Raba and Dunajec.
The highest peak: Mogielica (1171m/421m)
The most prominent peak: Luboń Wielki (1022m/512m).
Number of P100 summits: 34.
Pieniny
A compact rocky group on the Polish-Slovak border divided by the deep
Dunajec gorge. The borders of the massif are located on the following
passes: Snozka dividing from Gorce, Rozdziele dividing from Beskid
Sądecki and Straňanske sedlo (Folwarczna Przełęcz) dividing from Magura
Spiska.
The massif can be divided into three main parts: Hombarki in the west,
the most beautiful Pieniny Właściwe in the center and Małe Pieniny in
the east. Hombarki and the Polish part of Pieniny Właściwe are
orographically connected to Gorce, the rest of the region: via Magura
Spiska with the Tatra Mountains.
The highest peak is located in Małe Pieniny: Wysoka “Szlachtowska”
(1050m/247m)
The most prominent peak is located in Pieniny Właściwe: Okrąglica (HP
Trzy Korony, 983m/330m).
Number of P100m summits in Poland: 7.
Beskid Sądecki
A broad mountain massif divided by the Poprad gorge into two parts:
Radziejowa group in the west and Jaworzyna group in the east. The
geographical borders of the massif are located on Rozdziele Pass
(border with Pieniny) and Tylicka Pass (border with Beskid Niski).
The highest and the most prominent peak: Radziejowa (1262m/533m).
Number of P100m summits: 15.
Beskid Niski
A very broad massif with a complicated orography. The lowest part of
the main Carpathian ridge (Dukielska Pass, a key col of Moldoveanu, is
located in the middle of the region). Despite the low altitude, the
region is the most abundant in P100m peaks.
The massif is divided from Beskid Sądecki by the Tylicka Pass in the
west and from Bieszczady by the Łupkowska Pass in the east.
The highest and the most prominent peaks: Busov (1002m/372m) in
Slovakia and Lackowa (998m/361m) in Poland.
Number of P100m summits in Poland: 70.
Góry Sanocko-Turczańskie
A tiny mountain group located north of Bieszczady Zachodnie on the
eastern riverbank of the San river, partly in Dniestr basin (which
hydrographically belongs to Black Sea) on the Polish-Ukrainian border.
Northern hilly part is called Pogórze Przemyskie.
The highest and the most prominent peaks: Magura Łomniańska
(1024m/394m) in Ukraine and Trohaniec (HP Otryt) (939m/329m) in Poland.
Number of P100m summits: 15.
Bieszczady Zachodnie
The most eastern part of Polish Carpathians located between Łupkowska
Pass (division from Beskid Niski) and Użocka Pass (division from
Bieszczady Wschodnie in Ukraine). Due to the specific climate, the
highest peaks are bare as the tree-line is located very low at
1100-1200 m. The orographical construction of the massif is complicated
as the ridges are transverse to rivers.
The highest peak: Tarnica (1346m/494m).
The most prominent peak: Wielka Rawka (1307m/523m).
Number of P100 summits in Poland: 50.
Pogórze Beskidzkie
A broad hilly lowland located north of the core Carpathian range. It is
divided into the following parts:
(i)
Pogórze Śląskie between Olza and Skawa (Czech border)
(ii)
Pogórze Wielickie between Skawa and Raba
(iii)
Pogórze Wiśnickie between Raba and Dunajec
(iv)
Pogórze Różnowskie between Dunajec and Biała
(v)
Pogórze Ciężkowickie between Biała and Wisłoka
(vi)
Pogórze Strzyżowskie between Wisłoka and Wisłok
(vii)
Pogórze Dynowskie between Wisłok and San
(viii)
Pogórze Przemyskie between San and Wiar (Ukrainian border)
The highest peak is located in Pogórze Dynowskie: Sucha
Góra “Czarnorzecka” (585m/280m).
The most prominent peak is located in Pogórze Strzyżowskie:
Bardo (534m/284m).
Number of P100m summits: 31.