1. The highest peak – Mt. Gerlachovský štít
Mt. Gerlachovský štít, often called “Gerlach” is the highest peak of the Tatras, Slovakia and the whole Carpathians. The name is derived from the village of Gerlachov, which lies under it. The peak was also part of its territory. It is situated on the south-eastern side ridge of Mt. Zadný Gerlach, which is separated from it by Gerlachovské sedlo (saddle). The ridge continues from the peak to Mt. Kotlový štít, which gets split up and forms the well-known kettle hole of Gerlach. Due to its altitude, accessibility and beautiful mountain scenery, Mt. Gerlachovský štít is one of the most visited peaks.
2. The most visited “attraction“ – suspension cable car to Mt. Lomnický štít
Mt. Lomnický štít is the second highest peak of the High Tatras. Its summit resembles a three-sided pyramid and reaches the altitude of 2,633.8 metres. It became popular thanks to a suspension cable car that operates there from Skalnaté Pleso. The red-coloured cable car surmounts a vertical drop of 855 metres and the journey takes 8.5 minutes. From the moment it had been built until 1956, the 5,428-metre-long cable car was the longest personal transport facility of this kind. The view from the summit of Mt. Lomnický štít is an unforgettable life-time experience for many people.
3. The biggest tarn – Veľké Hincovo pleso
Another natural phenomenon in this category is Veľké Hincovo pleso - the biggest and deepest kettle lake in the Slovak High Tatras. It lies at the altitude of 1,946 metres, has an area of 20.08 ha and is 53 metres deep. It is located in Hincova kotlina (basin), in the upper part of Mengusovská dolina (valley).
4. The best known and most visited tarn – Štrbské pleso
It is the second biggest tarn in Slovakia and the only accessible of all tarns in the Tatras. Tourists can row a boat on its surface and relax while feasting their eyes on the Tatras. The tradition of boating is more than 130 years long and was renewed again after 25 years on 5th July 2008. The tarn was “unlocked” and you can now enjoy a beautiful view of Mt. Solisko and the peaceful surface of this unique natural phenomenon.
5. The highest waterfall – Kmeťov vodopád
Nature has created many beauties of water in the Tatras, including Kmeťov vodopád. It is included in the TOP category as the longest waterfall in the High Tatras. It is located in Kôprová dolina (valley) and has granodiorite bedrock. The waterfall is formed by Nefcerský potok (brook), which flows above it at the altitude of 1,245 metres. Kmeťov vodopád is 1.5 metres wide and 80 metres long, which entitles it to be called the longest waterfall.
6. The longest tourist trail – Tatranská magistrála
The longest and best known red-marked tourist trail that crosses the whole southern hillside of the High Tatras from the settlement of Podbanské up to Veľké Biele pleso (tarn) at the foot of the Belianske Tatra Mts. The trail is 46.25 km long, its construction began in the 1930s and finished in the 1950s. The lowest-located point is at the beginning – in Podbanské (963 metres above sea level) and the highest located at the respectable altitude of 2,037 metres.
7. The most massive rock wall – wall of Mt. Malý Kežmarský štít
Another member of the TOP-category is the wall of Mt. Malý Kežmarský štít, which is the most massive rock wall in the High Tatras. It is located in the northern part of Mt. Malý Kežmarský štít and is 900 metres high. The wall is an ideal location for climbers. It is easily accessible from the south-east, however, there are more than 100 first-ascent routes on the massive northern wall, many of which were truly groundbreaking in the history of climbing in the Tatras.
8. The highest located saddle – Sedielko
Our TOP 12 includes also one of well-known saddles, which is called Sedielko. It is situated between Mt. Zadný Ľadový štít and Mt. Široká veža at the altitude of 2,376 metres. Sedielko is the highest located saddle and connects the valleys Malá Studená dolina and Zadná Javorová dolina. It is accessible in both directions – from Starý Smokovec or from Tatranská Javorina.
9. The highest located botanical garden – Natural botanical garden on Mt. Lomnický štít
This small botanical garden is even the highest located botanical garden in Europe! Besides beautiful views, Mt. Lomnický štít offers also a variety of plants on the summit, where there have been more than 100 species of lichens, 40 species of bryophytes and 1 pteridophyte registered so far. As for blooming plants, there are 34 species, which means almost all plants that occur on ten peaks and rock towers in the Tatras that reach above the altitude of 2,600 metres.
10. The highest located chalet – Chalet under Mt. Rysy
Chalet under Mt. Rysy is the highest located mountain chalet in the Tatras and Slovakia. It is open only in the summer season (from 15th June to 31st October) and is located on a scree slope under the saddle of Váha in a valley with the same name, which is part of the basin of Žabie plesá (tarns), at the end of Mengusovská dolina (valley).
11. The most visited event – Bear Days in Hrebienok
A popular bear festival in Hrebienok for children and adults which is full of happy bear atmosphere every year. It is hosted by popular Andrej Bičan and offers a very interesting programme featuring artists like Master N, various children´s theatre groups, dance formations, a children´s string orchestra, Miro Jaroš and others. The event is held usually at the turn of July and August.
12. The best known video of the Tatras – Happy
The worldwide “Happy mania” spread across the biggest world metropolitan cities like Paris, London, Moscow, New York, Dubai, Prague etc. but got also zo the Tatras and our capital city. Young enthusiasts were shooting an atypical video in the ski resort of Tatranská Lomnica and Štrbské Pleso on five sunny days in March. The has had almost 7.5 million views on Youtube so far.