Beskids
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Panorama of Czech Beskids. Poland can be seen in far distant center. |
The
Beskids (
Polish:
Beskidy,
Czech and
Slovak:
Beskydy) is a traditional name for a series of
mountain ranges in the eastern
Czech Republic, northwestern
Slovakia, southern
Poland and in Western
Ukraine.
The Beskids are approximately 600 km in length and 50-70 km in width. They begin in Moravia (at the Moravian Gate), continue to the north of the
Tatra Mountains and end in Ukraine. The eastern border of the Beskids is disputed: according to older sources it is the sources of the Tisza River, according to newer sources the Beskids end at the Ushok pass at the Polish-Ukrainian border. The name of the highest mountain depends on the definition of the eastern border of the Beskids. The highest peak of the western part of the Beskids is the
Babia Góra-Babia Hora located on the Polish-Slovak frontier.
The Beskids are part of the
Outer Western Carpathians, only the Lesser Beskids (sl: Nízke Beskydy, pl: Beskid Niski)) and the
Bieszczady situated to the east of them are part of the
Eastern Carpathians.
The name of the mountains probably comes from a
Thracian or
Illyrian origin. The Beskids are currently rich in
forest and
coal. In the past they were rich in
iron ore, with important plants in
Ostrava and
Třinec.
There are many tourist attractions, especially the increasingly-popular
skiing resorts.
*
Bieszczady Mountains
