Mátra

Location of Mátra (red) within physical subdivisions of Hungary

Kékestető (1014 m)

Mátra

Winter landscape in Mátra

Mátra is a mountain range in northern Hungary, between the towns Gyöngyös and Eger. The country's highest peak, Kékestető (1014 m), belongs to this mountain range.

The Mátra (Slovak: Matra) is part of the North Hungarian Mountains and belongs by origin to the largest young volcanic zone of Europe. It is situated between the valleys of River Tarna and River Zagyva. The Mátra can be divided into several readily distinguishable parts. The highest point of the Western Mátra is Muzsla (805 m). The so-called Central Mátra consists of the plateau of Mátrabérc (Mátra ridge) and the groups of the volcanic cones of Galyatető and Kékestető. Steep, rugged slopes, screes, talus slopes and slides alternate with one another, covered with closed beech forests. Gentler slopes and parallel valleys flow down to the south, the largest of which is the so-called Nagy-völgy (Great Valley). The 'main entrance' to the Mátra was formed in parallel with the valley of Nagy-patak (Great Stream), ranging from Mátrafüred to Mátraháza. From the vineyard-covered landscape of the foot of the Mátra travellers can arrive at the wooded mountains in a flash. To the east, after the steep escarpment of the 898-metre-high Saskő (Eagle Stone), the 650-750-metre-high peaks of the Eastern Mátra follow one another. The northern part of the mountain range is called Mátralába (the Mátra's feet). This is a hilly area covered with 250-400-metre-high small volcanic cones, with mostly cultivated arable lands.

Regional structure

Cities/towns

• Gyöngyös (including Mátrafüred)
• Pásztó
• Pétervására
• Bátonyterenye

See also

• Geography of Hungary
• North Hungarian Mountains

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mátra.

• Mátra Home
• Gallery

Geographical regions of Hungary West-Hungarian Borderland Alpokalja Kőszeg Mountains Sopron Mountains Vas Hills Balfi Hills Little Hungarian Plain Hanság Fertőzug Neusiedl Basin Rábaköz Szigetköz Marcali Basin Moson Plain Komárom-Esztergom Plain Transdanubia Baranya Zala Hills Inner Somogy Outer Somogy Zselic Völgység Szekszárd Hills Baranya Hills Villány Mountains Transdanubian Mountains Keszthely Mountains Tapolca Basin Balaton Uplands Bakony Bakonyalja Sokoró Vértesalja Velence Mountains Gerecse Mountains Buda Mountains Pilis Mountains Visegrád Mountains Vértes Mountains Transdanubian Hills Mecsek Outer Somogy Inner Somogy Tolna-Baranya Hills Balaton Basin North Hungarian Mountains Börzsöny Cserhát Mátra Mátralába Bükk Zemplén Mountains Great Hungarian Plain Bácska Bánát Mezőföld Sárrét Sárköz Drávamellék Kunság Kiskunság Jászság Pest Plain Heves Plain Borsodi-Mezőség Bodrogköz Tiszahát Szatmár Plain Maros-Körös köze Körös-vidék Nagykunság Hortobágy Hajdúság Nyírség Tiszántúl

Coordinates: 47°53′N 19°57′E / 47.883°N 19.950°E / 47.883; 19.950