Kráľova hoľa

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Coordinates: 48°53′N 20°8′E / 48.883, 20.133
Kráľova hoľa
Mountain
none Kráľova hoľa
Kráľova hoľa
Country Flag of Slovakia Slovakia
Region Banská Bystrica
Part of Low Tatras National Park
Range Low Tatras
Elevation 1,946 m (6,385 ft)
Coordinates 48°53′N 20°8′E / 48.883, 20.133
Easiest access hike
Location in Slovakia
Location in Slovakia
Location in Slovakia

Kráľova hoľa (literally "King's Bald Mountain") is the highest mountain (1,946 m) of the eastern part of the Low Tatras in central Slovakia. Four rivers rise at its foot: Čierny Váh, Hnilec, Hornád, and Hron. The summit, easily accessible by hiking trails from Telgárt as well as by a paved road from Šumiac, offers a panoramic view of Spiš, the High Tatras, Liptov, and the Upper Hron Valley. Largely deforested by exploitative timber harvesting in the early 19th century, its timberline was restored to its natural elevation of about 1,650 m (5,413 ft.) through the efforts of Ludwig Greiner in the second half of that century.[1]

Kráľova hoľa is often depicted in Slovak folklore and Romantic poetry as a safe refuge of heroes and highwaymen, namely Juraj Jánošík. As a metaphor of homeland in folk ballads (such as Na Kráľovej holi) and particularly in one of the best-known Slovak poems[2] The Death of Jánošík (1862) by Ján Botto,[3] the mountain has become one of informal Slovak national symbols along with Kriváň.

During the anti-Nazi Slovak National Uprising, the partisan group Jánošík had their shelters below the top of the mountain. In 1960, a TV transmitter was built on the top. There is also a weather station and a station of the mountain rescue service.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Štefan Valentovič, et al. Slovenský biografický slovník, II zväzok E-J. 1987.
  2. ^ Felicitas Maukšová, "Recepcia Bottovej Smrti Jánošíkovej v školskej praxi." In: Július Bolfík, ed. Ján Botto – život a dielo... 1983.
  3. ^ English translation by Ivan Joseph Kramoris in 1944.