The Tatras National Park

The Tatras National Park is the oldest national park in Slovakia. It was founded in 1949 and covers a 741-square-kilometer area of the Slovak part of the Zapadne Tatry and Vysoke Tatry (West and High Tatras), also including the entire Belianske Tatras. The boundaries of the Tatras National Park (TANAP), clearly marked on all approach routes, are: the Slovak-Polish border to the north, the Zdiar-Tatranska Kotlina road to the east, a line approximating the forest line to the south, and to the west through the valley Sucha dolina to Biela skala, towards Oravice and through the valley Ticha dolina up to the Polish border. TANAP's charge is to preserve the original condition of the natural environment through comprehensive protection and guidance for the mountains' usage for recreation, therapy and sport. TANAP's administration, the state forestry offices, the Tatras botanical exhibition, research institute and TANAP museum are located in Tatranska Lomnica. The Tatras Mountain Rescue Service, a branch of the state forestry administration, is based in Stary Smokovec. Please visit also Nizke Tatry (The Low Tatras National Park) . The densely forested hills of the Low Tatras (Nizke Tatry) run parallel to the High Tatras.