DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-025-2-0183

MORPHO DYNAMIC PROCESSES IN THE TATRA MTS. (SLOVAKIA) AS LIMITS OF ALPINE TOURISM

Gabriel Bugár¹, Juraj Hreško¹, Veronika Piscová²

¹ Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Informatics, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovakia

² Institute of Landscape Ecology of SAS, Bratislava, the Nitra Branch, Slovakia

The Tatras, with their location on the northern edge of the Carpathian arc, have their own specific position both in the field of nature protection and in the socio-economic development of Slovakia. Practically since 1949, the principles of nature protection have been applied within the Tatra National Park, which was associated with significant restrictions on socio-economic activities mainly limited to the area of ​​tourism development. A large part of the capacity of the territory was gradually designated for concentrated forms of tourism, while forms of hiking were limited not only by the availability of the relief, but also by the defined routes of tourist trails. The most frequently used trails are from the mouth of the valleys, through their bottoms to the saddles, through the ridges to the more accessible peaks. In the article we focus mainly on valley or valley-saddle routes, as in the case of the Belianske Tatras. Since 1993, the bilateral Tatra Biosphere Reserve has been approved, which has emphasized the attribute of sustainable forms of tourism. In the article we want to point out the importance and impact of morphodynamic processes as limiting factors of alpine tourism. The frequency of occurrence of sudden and difficult to predict events is increasing, and thus the risk of endangering humans. Gradient structures of valley systems in some parts of the valleys increases the risk of endangerment of hiking trails, as well as tourists themselves. 

Keywords: Tatra Mts., morphodynamic processes, alpine tourism

pages: 183-187, Published: 2025, online: 2025