# Great Fatra

Great Fatra (Veľká Fatra - Slovak pronunciation: [ˈʋeʎkaː ˈfatra]; also Greater Fatra) is a mountain range in the Western Carpathians in Central Slovakia. It is among the towns of Ružomberok, Harmanec, Turčianske Teplice and Martin.

## Understand

Most valuable parts of the range are included in the Veľká Fatra National Park.

### Landscape

The Veľká Fatra lie to the southwest of the better known Malá Fatra mountains and are less developed, as well as, contrary to the name, being lower.

### Flora and fauna

Nearly 90% of the area is covered by forests – beech and beech-fir forests, in some places replaced by spruce plantations and relics of pines. The area of Harmanec is the richest yew-tree site in Europe. The original natural upper borderline of forests was lowered during the Wallachian colonization. There are many extensive upland pastures, where cattle is raised in the summer.

### Climate
## Get in

Buses and trains go to the surrounding big cities. The ski centers and attractions are usually accessible by public buses too.

## See

* 48.813919.04021 Harmanecká cave (Harmanecká jaskyňa). €3-6. (updated Oct 2016)
The following peaks/viewpoints belong into the range:
* 49.049119.24852 Malinné (1,209 m). A peak in the Malinô Brdo ski center (updated Oct 2016)
* 48.98222219.2308333 Smrekovica (1,530 m). A peak nearby Smrekovica ski area. Not accessible by regular walk paths. (updated Oct 2016)
* 48.9619.1794NOT EXISTING LISTING IMAGE Rakytov (1,567 m). (updated Oct 2016)
* 48.899819.08115NOT EXISTING LISTING IMAGE Ostredok (1,596 m). The highest peak of the range. (updated Oct 2016)
* 48.87719.0786 Krížna (1,574 m). The best view of the southern mountains: Kremnické vrchy, Poľana, Vtáčnik. (updated Oct 2016)
* 48.86222219.1069447NOT EXISTING LISTING IMAGE Majer's rock (Majerova skala). A cliff near Krížna mountain with good overview over the Donovaly valley. (updated Nov 2017)
* 48.93431418.971028 Tlstá (1,208 m). View of Turiec basin. (updated Oct 2016)

## Do
### Hiking

One day hiking is possible in many places of the range, esp. popular are the ones at the ski centers. Some of the hikes can be relatively long and exhausting.
* 49.07719.1511NOT EXISTING LISTING IMAGE Ľubochnianska valley (Ľubochnianska dolina) (Start from Lubochňa town). Longest valley of Slovakia - 25 km. Ends at the feet of mountains Ploská and Čierny kameň. (updated Oct 2016)
* 48.9060718.963192NOT EXISTING LISTING IMAGE Blatnica Valley. A densely forested karst valley. In places, lime and dolomite rocks are visible, however the best-known part of the valley is the rock window at its lower part. (updated Nov 2017)
* 48.9435319.006033NOT EXISTING LISTING IMAGE Gader Valley. A long valley with the ruins on Blatnica castle. (updated Nov 2017)
* 48.9608719.019774 Necpal Valley. (updated Nov 2017)
* 49.01343319.0162175 Jasenská Valley. (updated Nov 2017)
Multi-day hiking:
Many 2- or 3-day walks through the whole range are possible. Hike planners like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz can be used to find possible hike paths.
One of the possible hikes measures 82 km and has 5,400 m of total elevation difference, so it may be exhausting. Start is in usually in Ružomberok (Malinô Brdo ski center), the end can be either Harmanec (nearby Banská Bystrica, see here, use google translator if needed) or Ľubochňa (see here).

### Skiing

* 49.053919.26466 Malinô Brdo (Cablecar bottom station in Ružomberok). (updated Oct 2016)
* 48.998319.20327 Smrekovica (From Ružomberok, turn into Podsuchá and go up the valley.). A secluded and small one, only 400 m. (updated Oct 2016)
* 48.874119.22568 Donovaly. Not in Veľká Fatra, but right at its edge. (updated Oct 2016)

## Sleep
### Lodging

At the ski centers, there is plethora of accommodation available.
Best bet is sleeping in alpine huts or one of the sheep-guards housings. A (non-exhausting) list of available locations:
* 48.9910819.200631 Hotel Smrekovica. (updated Oct 2016)
* 48.9405619.097512 Chata pod Borišovom. (updated Oct 2016)
* 48.922819.10313 Kýšky. (updated Oct 2016)
* 48.915619.08724 Suchý vrch. (updated Oct 2016)
* 48.876319.04095 Kráľova studňa. (updated Oct 2016)

### Camping

For the multi-day hiking, it is possible to sleep in designated places in tents, but because of the high bear presence (compared to other parts of Slovakia), it may be a bit risky. As of 2016, no bear-caused fatalities had happened in the previous few years though.

## Stay safe

Animals like brown bear, grey wolf and Eurasian lynx live here. Although they usually are more afraid of humans than the other way around, it's always good to be prepared for the chance of meeting them.

## Go next

* Banská Bystrica
* Ružomberok
* Low Tatras
* Little Fatra
* Choč Mountains