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Beskids

Coordinates:48°09′36″N24°30′01″E/ 48.16000°N 24.50028°E/48.16000; 24.50028
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Beskids
Eastern Beskids inZakarpattia Oblast,Ukraine
Highest point
PeakBabia Góra
Elevation1,725 m (5,659 ft)
Coordinates48°09′36″N24°30′01″E/ 48.16000°N 24.50028°E/48.16000; 24.50028
Dimensions
Length600 km (370 mi)
Width70 km (43 mi)
Naming
Native name
Geography
CountriesPoland,Slovakia,Czech RepublicandUkraine
RegionsSilesia,Lesser Poland,MoraviaandCarpathian Ruthenia
Parent rangeWesternandEastern Carpathians
Borders onSudetesandTatra Mountains

TheBeskidsorBeskid Mountains(Polish:Beskidy,Czech:Beskydy,Slovak:Beskydy,Rusyn:Бескиды(Beskydŷ),Ukrainian:Бескиди(Beskydy)) are a series of mountain ranges in theCarpathians,stretching from theCzech Republicin the west along the border ofPolandwithSlovakiaup toUkrainein the east.[1]

The highest mountain in the Beskids isBabia Góra,at 1,725 m metres (5,659 ft).[2]

Etymology

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The origin of the namebeskydyhas not been conclusively established. AThracianorIllyrianorigin has been suggested;[citation needed]however, as yet, no theory has majority support among linguists. The word appears in numerous mountain names throughout the Carpathians and the adjacentBalkanregions, like inAlbanianbjeshkë.According to linguists Çabej and Orel, it is possibly derived fromProto-Albanian*beškāi tāi(meaning 'the mountain pastures').[3][4]The Slovak nameBeskydyrefers to the PolishBieszczady Mountains,which is not a synonym for the entire Beskids but one single range, belonging to theEastern Beskids.According to another linguistic theory, it may be related toMiddle Low Germanbeshêt,beskēt,meaning 'watershed'.[5]

Historically, the term was used for hundreds of years to describe the mountain range separating the oldKingdom of Hungaryfrom the oldKingdom of Poland.In 1269, the Beskids were known by the Latin nameBeschad Alpes Poloniae'Beskid Mountains of Poland'.[6]

Definition

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The Beskids are approximately 600 km (370 mi) in length and 50–70 km (31–43 mi) in width. They stand mainly along the southern border ofLesser Polandwith northern Slovakia, stretching to theMoraviaandCzech Silesiaregions of the eastern Czech Republic and toCarpathian Rutheniain western Ukraine. Parts form theEuropean Watershed,separating theOderandVistulabasins in the north from theEastern Slovak Lowland,part of theGreat Hungarian Plaindrained by theDanubeRiver.

Geologically all of the Beskids stand within theOuter Western Carpathiansand theOuter Eastern Carpathians.In the west they begin at the natural pass of theMoravian Gate,which separates them from theEastern Sudetes,continue east in a band to the north of theTatra Mountains,and end inUkraine.The eastern termination of the Beskids is disputed. According to older sources, the Beskids end at the source of theTiszaRiver, while newer sources state that the Beskids end at theUzhok Passat the Polish–Ukrainian border.

Subdivisions

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Western section ofWestern Beskids,marked in red and labeled with E
Northern section ofWestern Beskids,marked in red and labeled with F
Eastern section of the Western Beskids,marked in red and labeled with H
Central section of the Western Beskids,marked in red and labeled with G

Multiple traditions, languages and nationalities have developed overlapping variants for the divisions and names of the Beskid ranges. According to thedivisions of the Carpathians,they are categorized within:

Western Beskids

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Central Beskids

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Central Beskidian Piedmont,marked in red and labeled with A
Central Beskids,marked in red and labeled with B

Eastern Beskids

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Eastern Beskids,marked in red and labelled with C

Eastern Beskidsare divided into two parallel ridges: Wooded Beskids and Polonynian Beskids.

Infrastructure

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The Beskids are currently rich inforestandcoal.In the past they were rich iniron ore,with important plants inOstravaandTřinec–Třinec Iron and Steel Works.

There are many tourist attractions, including historic wooden churches (seeWooden Churches of Southern Little Poland,Carpathian Wooden Churchesof Slovakia, andWooden Churches of Ukraine) and the increasingly popularskiingresorts.

A number of environmental groups support a small but growing population of bears, wolves and lynx in the ecosystem of the Beskidy mountains. The Central Beskids include the PolishBabia Góra National Parkand the adjacent SlovakHorná Orava Protected Landscape Area.

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See also

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Citations

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  1. ^Encyclopedia of Ukraine: Beskyds
  2. ^Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary.3. vyd. Springfield, Massachusetts, U. S. A.: Merriam-Webster, Incorporporated, Publishers, 1997. 1361 s. ISBN 0-87779-546-0. S. 139.
  3. ^Çabej, E. (1976). Studime Gjuhësore I, Studime Etimologjike në Fushë të Shqipes, A-O. Priština: Rilindja, page 68
  4. ^Orel, Vladimir(1998). "Beskids".Albanian Etymological Dictionary.Leiden, Boston, Cologne: Brill. p. X.ISBN9004110240.
  5. ^Zbigniew Gołąb.The Origins of the Slavs: A Linguist's View.Slavica Publishers, Inc., 1992 p. 342. "The Germanic etymology of Bieszczad // Beskid was proposed by Prof. Jan Michał Rozwadowski (1914:162, etc.). He derives the variantbeščadfrom Germc.biskaid,which is represented by MLGbesche(beskêt)Trennungand by Scandinavianbêsked,borrowed from [...] "
  6. ^Kazimierz Zarzycki, Zbigniew Głowaciński (1986): Bieszczady (p. 7)

General and cited sources

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