Tatra Mountains—The Only High-Mountain Landscape in Poland

The Tatra Mountains represent the only high-mountain range in Poland, with a typical alpine landscape shaped by Pleistocene glaciersGlacier. They stand out as the highest mountain range in Poland as well as in the entire Carpathians, but are not high enough to support present-day glaciersGlacier. The landscape of the Tatras is dependent on complex nappeNappe-type alpine geological structure, considerable neotectonicNeotectonic upliftUplift, and impact of multiple glaciations during the Pleistocene. The exceptionally well-preserved glacial landscape includes cirques and deeply incised U-shaped valleys, some with overdeepened bedrock floors, hanging valleysHanging valley, distinct trimlinesTrimline, truncated spurs, arȇtes, and even palaeonunataks, which are all an effect of strong imprint of glacial erosionErosionglacial. The freshly shaped terminal and recessional moraines of the last glaciation contrast with subdued moraines and tillTill covers from older glaciations which are only preserved locally in the High Tatra Mountains. The Tatra Mountains with patches of discontinuous permafrostPermafrost and perennial firn-ice patches (glacieretes)Glacierete are the only area with the present-day periglacialPeriglacial phenomena in Poland. Nevertheless, all rock glaciersRock glacier are there relict, inherited from the Late Pleistocene cold phases. The Tatra Mountains represent a dynamic landscape that is highly responsive to climate change; however, the assessment of the potential impact of contemporary climate warmingWarming on the patterns and dynamics of geomorphologic processes appears to be a key challenge for future geomorphologic studies.