Skiing in Slovakia

Winter is such a wonderful season. It affords the opportunity to engage in so many different winter activities and sports. Furthermore, since the season sometimes affords a time of vacation, there is the possibility of travel and tourism abroad. The winter is especially practical if you're fond of skiing. This winter sport is beloved of many people around the globe, and therefore there exist many places where one can find excellent ski slopes.

One of these places is Slovakia, where there exist a good number of high-rated ski slopes and resorts, for beginner as well as experts. Nestled in the southern part of the Carpathian Mountains, over half of Slovakia's terrain is mountainous. The range that forms the border between Poland and Slovakia bears the name of the Tatra Mountains. That mountain chain is itself divided into four sub-ranges: the Eastern, Western, High and Belianske Tatras.

Though there are many skiing spots in each one of these sub-ranges, most of them lie within the High Tatras. We shall examine two of them here: Štrbské pleso and Starý Smokovec. Štrbské pleso is a ski resort nestled in the Vysoké Tatry Mountains. It is right nearby the Štrbské pleso, a glacial mountain lake from which it takes its name. At an altitude of over 4,500 feet, it is almost a given that the resort will have a good amount of snow throughout the year, though the best conditions for skiing are in place between the months of December and March.

The Štrbské pleso resort has both beginner and intermediate slopes, with the latter making up the greater portion. There are a total of 3 chair lifts, to help people get to the slopes with greater ease. Additionally, for those who enjoy cross-country skiing, there are over 11 miles of well kept-up slopes devoted to this purpose. The resort of Starý Smokovec is located at over 3,300 feet above sea level, in the Vysoké Tatry Mts. It is, in fact, relatively close to the Štrbské pleso resort. Starý Smokovec means "old Smokovec" in Slovak, and is a part of the small town of Vysoké Tatry.

Among its many attractions are a sanatorium (a sort of long-term convalescence home) and the Grand Hotel. This resort is probably the best one to go to if you're a beginner, as most of its slopes are for the new skier. There are a total of 5 different chair lifts, and a total downhill run of 2.7 miles. The resort is ranked as a Grade 5, the best possible score for a ski resort. Whether you attend the resorts gone over here or you opt for another one, the idyllic snow-capped mountains and clear glacial lakes of Slovakia give the region a natural beauty that is impossible to ignore. These natural features give this country a great deal of appeal, especially if you are an avid skier.