Beskids
Encyclopedia
The Beskids is a traditional name for a series of Eastern European mountain range
s.
, neighboring regions in northern Slovakia
, and in western Ukraine
.
Multiple traditions, languages and nationalities have developed overlapping variants for the divisions and names of these ranges. Geologically all of the Beskids stand within the Outer Western Carpathians and the Outer Eastern Carpathians.
In the west they begin in Moravia
(eastern Czech Republic) at the natural pass of the Moravian Gate
, continue east in a band to the north of the Tatra Mountains
, and end in Ukraine
. The eastern termination of the Beskids is disputed. According to older sources, the Beskids end at the source of the Tisza River, while newer sources state that the Beskids end at the Ushok Pass at the Polish-Ukrainian border.
In the divisions of the Carpathians
, the ranges of the Beskids are categorized within:
(Note that the Polish Bieszczady Mountains is not a synonym for the entire Beskids -- it is one single range, belonging to the Eastern Beskids
.)
or Illyrian
origin has been suggested, however, as yet, no theory has majority support among linguists. 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
- Třinec Iron and Steel Works
.
There are many tourist attractions, including historic wooden churches (see Wooden Churches of Southern Little Poland
, Carpathian Wooden Churches
of Slovakia, and Wooden Churches of Ukraine) and the increasingly popular skiing
resorts.
In recent years, a number of environmental groups have been working to support a small but growing population of bears, wolves and lynx in the ecosystem of the Beskidy mountains.
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
s.
Definition
The Beskids are approximately 600 km in length and 50–70 km in width. They stand mainly along the southern border of Poland, and in the neighboring far eastern Czech RepublicCzech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, neighboring regions in northern Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, and in western Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
.
Multiple traditions, languages and nationalities have developed overlapping variants for the divisions and names of these ranges. Geologically all of the Beskids stand within the Outer Western Carpathians and the Outer Eastern Carpathians.
In the west they begin in Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
(eastern Czech Republic) at the natural pass of the Moravian Gate
Moravian Gate
The Moravian Gate is a geomorphological feature in the Moravian region of the Czech Republic. It is formed by the depression between the Carpathian Mountains in the east and the Sudetes in the west...
, continue east in a band to the north of the Tatra Mountains
Tatra Mountains
The Tatra Mountains, Tatras or Tatra , are a mountain range which forms a natural border between Slovakia and Poland, and are the highest mountain range in the Carpathian Mountains...
, and end in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. The eastern termination of the Beskids is disputed. According to older sources, the Beskids end at the source of the Tisza River, while newer sources state that the Beskids end at the Ushok Pass at the Polish-Ukrainian border.
In the divisions of the Carpathians
Divisions of the Carpathians
Divisions of the Carpathians is categorization of the Carpathian mountains system.Below is a detailed overview of the major subdivisions and ranges of the Carpathian Mountains. The Carpathians are a "subsystem" of a bigger Alps-Himalaya System that stretches from the western Europe all the way to...
, the ranges of the Beskids are categorized within:
- Outer Western Carpathians
- the West-Beskidian PiedmontWest-Beskidian PiedmontThe West-Beskidian Piedmont is a geological region of the northeastern Czech Republic extending into southern Poland...
(spanning the Czech Republic and Poland) - the Western BeskidsWestern BeskidsThe Western Beskids are a set of mountain ranges spanning the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland....
(in Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland) - the Central BeskidsCentral BeskidsThe Central Beskids are a set of mountain ranges spanning the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland....
(in Slovakia and Poland) - the Eastern BeskidsEastern BeskidsThe Eastern Beskids is a set of mountain ranges spanning the northern Slovakian and southern Polish border....
(in Slovakia and Poland)
- the West-Beskidian Piedmont
- Outer Eastern Carpathians
- the Central Beskidian PiedmontCentral Beskidian PiedmontThe Central Beskidian Piedmont is a set of mountain ranges of the Outer Eastern Carpathians, in far southeastern Poland.The Central Beskidian Piedmont consists of:* Rożnów Piedmont...
(in Poland) - the Lower Beskids (in Slovakia and Poland)
- the Eastern Beskids and the Ukrainian CarpathiansEastern Beskids and the Ukrainian CarpathiansThe Eastern Beskids and the Ukrainian Carpathians is a geological group of mountain ranges of the Outer Eastern Carpathians, mostly in Ukraine...
(in Slovakia, Poland and Ukraine)
- the Central Beskidian Piedmont
(Note that the Polish Bieszczady Mountains is not a synonym for the entire Beskids -- it is one single range, belonging to the Eastern Beskids
Eastern Beskids
The Eastern Beskids is a set of mountain ranges spanning the northern Slovakian and southern Polish border....
.)
History
The origin of the mountain's name remains a mystery. A ThracianThracian language
The Thracian language was the Indo-European language spoken in ancient times in Southeastern Europe by the Thracians, the northern neighbors of the Ancient Greeks. The Thracian language exhibits satemization: it either belonged to the Satem group of Indo-European languages or it was strongly...
or Illyrian
Illyrian languages
The Illyrian languages are a group of Indo-European languages that were spoken in the western part of the Balkans in former times by groups identified as Illyrians: Ardiaei, Delmatae, Pannonii, Autariates, Taulanti...
origin has been suggested, however, as yet, no theory has majority support among linguists. The Beskids are currently rich in forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
and coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
. In the past they were rich in iron ore, with important plants in Ostrava
Ostrava
Ostrava is the third largest city in the Czech Republic and the second largest urban agglomeration after Prague. Located close to the Polish border, it is also the administrative center of the Moravian-Silesian Region and of the Municipality with Extended Competence. Ostrava was candidate for the...
and Třinec
Trinec
Třinec is a town in Frýdek-Místek District, Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It lies on the Olza River, in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia. The town has 37,405 inhabitants as of 2009, in 2001 17.7% of the population were Poles...
- Třinec Iron and Steel Works
Trinec Iron and Steel Works
Třinec Iron and Steel Works is a producer of long rolled steel products in Třinec, Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic. TŽ produces over a third of all steel produced in the Czech Republic . Since its establishment, Třinecké železárny's plants have produced more than 150 million tons of...
.
There are many tourist attractions, including historic wooden churches (see Wooden Churches of Southern Little Poland
Wooden Churches of Southern Little Poland
Wooden Churches of Southern Lesser Poland and Subcarpathia of the UNESCO inscription are located in Gorlice, Nowy Targ, Bochnia counties , and Brzozów County and are in Binarowa, Blizne, Dębno, Haczów, Lipnica Dolna, and Sękowa...
, Carpathian Wooden Churches
Carpathian Wooden Churches
Roman Catholic wooden church of St. Francis of Assisi in Hervartov has a Gothic character as represented by its tall but narrow structure unusual for a wooden church. It was built in the second half of the 15th century and thus represents the oldest of its type in Slovakia...
of Slovakia, and Wooden Churches of Ukraine) and the increasingly popular skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
resorts.
In recent years, a number of environmental groups have been working to support a small but growing population of bears, wolves and lynx in the ecosystem of the Beskidy mountains.