Velka Svistovka peak

Velka Svistovka peak viewed from Kezmarska Biela Voda with terribly deforestated slopes at the foothills. National Parks on both sides of Tatras are currently working hard with the dramatic effects of spruce-beetle calamity and demolition caused by extreme winds so frequent in the area in recent years, months. The target now is to remodel the species structure of the low elevation forest from artificially(human created) spruce monoculture into diversified multispecies, healthy forest with beeches, firs, sycamores etc. closer to its primeval state. That's official point of view. In fact, Tatra forests look more and more demolished year by year now. Sad conclusion is that we won't be able to admire those mountains even in state from mid 90's in our lives... 25th February 2014 lodowy.pl