Pieniny National Park

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Minor parts of the Central Pieniny

CzorsztynPieniny with the highest altitude of Nová hora (New Mountain) (902 m) is ranging from the castle cliff of Czorsztyn up to ŠopkaSaddle westwards of Tri koruny (Three Crowns). They do not reach the Slovak territory. The massif of Three Crowns is ranging from ŠopkaSaddle up to the valley of Pieniny Creek. The massif of Three Crowns separates the Dunajec River with a gorge valley in two parts. From the left – Polish side, the well-known Tri koruny (Three Crowns – 982 m) belong to them, they reach up to 520 m above the Dunajec River. On the right – Slovak side, there is the ridge of Kláštorná hora (Monastery Mountain – 657 m), Holice (828 m) and Plašná (889 m), together with Haligovce Rocks.

The territory of Pieniny is divided into three parts

Spišské Pieniny

are located in the western part of Pieniny and extend between the river Bialka and Niedzica. They include the castle rock Niedzica. They do not cross the Slovak side.

Central Pieniny

is located on both sides of the river Dunajec from the castle castle Čorštýn to the town Ščavnica. Central Pieniny is divided even smaller.

Smaller parts of Central Pieniny

Čorštýnske Pieniny with the highest elevation of Nová hora (902 m above sea level) stretches from the castle of Čorštýn to the Šopka saddle west of Three Crowns. They do not interfere with the Slovak side.

The Three Crowns massif extends from the Šopka saddle to the Pieninský brook valley. The Dunajec river divided the Dunajec massif into two parts. From the left – Polish side there are known Three Crowns (982 m above sea level), which rise up to 520 m above the Dunajec surface. On the right – Slovak side they are formed by the ridge of Kláštorná hora (657 m above sea level), Holice (828 m above sea level) and Plašná (889 m above sea level) with Halig rocks.

Pieniny is considered the most picturesque part of the central Pieniny. They extend between the valley of the Pieninský brook after the breakthrough of the Lesnické brook. The most famous rock is Sokolica (747 m), but the highest point is Čertežik (774 m). The height of the rock walls on the Polish side reaches up to 300 m above the surface of Dunajec. On the Slovak side, in this part of Pieniny, there is only a rocky rock called Osobitá (490 m above sea level), towering on the right side before the breakthrough of the Lesnický brook.

Small Pieniny

Pieninky (Small Pieniny) is considered to be the most picturesque part of Central Pieniny. It is located between the valley of Pieniny Creek up to the gorge of Lesnica Creek. The most significant rocky cliff is Sokolica (747 m), but Čertežik (774 m) is of the highest altitude. The altitude of the rocky cliffs on Polish side reaches up to 300 m above Dunajec level. On Slovak side, there is only the rocky cliff Osobitá (490 m) rising on the right side before Lesnica Creek.

Pieniny is the area significant by its picturesque scenery preserving the features of folk architecture, narrow fieldstrips interweaved with steep balks, small forests accompanied by deep forests on the mountain ridges.

It is the territory admired by many inorganics for its complex and very interesting geological structure, botanists and zoologists for the presence of unique and rare species of fauna, flora and their biotopes, landscape painters for the beautiful coexistence of man with nature that made the picturesqueness and charm of the present country. This makessuch a beautiful piece of land the place of international preservation of nature in Europe.

Fauna

The zoogeographic exceptionality of the Pieniny territory is considerably determined by geomorphological segmentation. The national park territory is significantly segmented in altitude, from 429 m up to 1050 m. The terrain is strongly differentiated in many exposed slopes, broader valleys are changing with canyon gorges, deep forests with meadows and rocky and steppe hillsides, the Dunajec River together with its streams create a suitable environment for many animal species.

Flora

The Pienin plant has been attracting botanists for over 200 years. The first known collector of plants was Frater Cyprian, a Camaldulian monk who spent part of his life in the Red Monastery. In his herbarium, which he compiled in 1764, he collected and described 265 plants from Pieniny and the surrounding area. Pieniny, which has never been hit by a continuous Nordic or local Tatra glacier, has provided the plant with space for survival and uninterrupted development. Flora Pienin has a unique position and remarkable natural value.