Tatra County
Encyclopedia
Tatra County is a unit of territorial administration and local government (powiat
) in Lesser Poland Voivodeship
, southern Poland
, on the Slovak
border. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and only town is Zakopane
, which lies 85 kilometres (53 mi) south of the regional capital Kraków
. The county takes its name from the Tatra
mountain range, which covers most of its territory.
The county covers an area of 471.62 square kilometres (182.1 sq mi). As of 2006 its total population is 65,393, out of which the population of Zakopane is 27,486 and the rural population is 37,907.
The mountainous southern part of the county (211 km²) makes up the Tatra National Park. This area, together with the Slovakian Tatra National Park
across the border, make up a UNESCO
-designated biosphere reserve
.
, which lies to the north. To the east, west and south it is bordered by Slovakia
(namely, Tvrdošín
and Liptovský Mikuláš Districts in Žilina Region
to the south and west, and Poprad District
in Prešov Region
to the south and east).
s (one urban and four rural). These are listed in the following table, in descending order of population.
Powiat
A powiat is the second-level unit of local government and administration in Poland, equivalent to a county, district or prefecture in other countries. The term powiat is most often translated into English as "county", although other terms are also sometimes used...
) in Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Małopolska Voivodeship , or Lesser Poland Voivodeship, is a voivodeship, in southern Poland...
, southern Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, on the Slovak
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
border. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and only town is Zakopane
Zakopane
Zakopane , is a town in southern Poland. It lies in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998 it was in of Nowy Sącz Province, but since 1999 it has been in Lesser Poland Province. It had a population of about 28,000 as of 2004. Zakopane is a...
, which lies 85 kilometres (53 mi) south of the regional capital Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
. The county takes its name from the Tatra
Tatra Mountains
The Tatra Mountains, Tatras or Tatra , are a mountain range which forms a natural border between Slovakia and Poland, and are the highest mountain range in the Carpathian Mountains...
mountain range, which covers most of its territory.
The county covers an area of 471.62 square kilometres (182.1 sq mi). As of 2006 its total population is 65,393, out of which the population of Zakopane is 27,486 and the rural population is 37,907.
The mountainous southern part of the county (211 km²) makes up the Tatra National Park. This area, together with the Slovakian Tatra National Park
Tatra National Park, Slovakia
Tatra National Park is one of the nine national parks in Slovakia. It is situated in North Central Slovakia in the Tatra Mountains. The Tatra National Park protects the area of the Western Tatras and the Eastern Tatras .The National Park covers an area of 738 km² , and the buffer zone around the...
across the border, make up a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
-designated biosphere reserve
Biosphere reserve
The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
.
Neighbouring counties
Tatra County is bordered by only one other Polish county, Nowy Targ CountyNowy Targ County
Nowy Targ County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland, on the Slovak border. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is...
, which lies to the north. To the east, west and south it is bordered by Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
(namely, Tvrdošín
Tvrdošín District
Tvrdošín District is a district inthe Žilina Region of central Slovakia.Until 1918, the district was part of the Hungarian county of Orava.- Municipalities :*Brezovica*Čimhová*Habovka*Hladovka*Liesek*Nižná*Oravský Biely Potok...
and Liptovský Mikuláš Districts in Žilina Region
Žilina Region
The Žilina Region is one of the eight Slovak administrative regions and consists of 11 districts .-Geography:It is located in northern Slovakia and has an area of 6,804 km² and a population of 694,763 . The whole area is mountainous, belonging to the Western Carpathians...
to the south and west, and Poprad District
Poprad District
Poprad District is a district inthe Prešov Region of eastern Slovakia.Until 1918, the district was almost entirely part of the Hungarian county of Spiš, apart from two small areas in the...
in Prešov Region
Prešov Region
The Prešov Region is one of the eight Slovak administrative regions. It consists of 13 districts.-Geography:It is located in north-eastern Slovakia and has an area of 8,975 km². The region has diverse types of landscapes occurring in Slovakia, but mostly highlands and hilly lands dominate the...
to the south and east).
Administrative division
The county is subdivided into five gminaGmina
The gmina is the principal unit of administrative division of Poland at its lowest uniform level. It is often translated as "commune" or "municipality." As of 2010 there were 2,479 gminas throughout the country...
s (one urban and four rural). These are listed in the following table, in descending order of population.
| Gmina | Type | Area (km²) |
Population (2006) |
Seat |
| Zakopane Zakopane Zakopane , is a town in southern Poland. It lies in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998 it was in of Nowy Sącz Province, but since 1999 it has been in Lesser Poland Province. It had a population of about 28,000 as of 2004. Zakopane is a... |
urban | 84.0 | 27,486 | |
| Gmina Bukowina Tatrzańska Gmina Bukowina Tatrzanska Gmina Bukowina Tatrzańska is a rural gmina in Tatra County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland, on the Slovak border... |
rural | 131.8 | 12,386 | Bukowina Tatrzańska Bukowina Tatrzanska Bukowina Tatrzańska , is a village in Tatra County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland, close to the border with Slovakia. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Bukowina Tatrzańska. It lies approximately north-east of Zakopane and south of the regional capital Kraków.The village... |
| Gmina Poronin Gmina Poronin Gmina Poronin is a rural gmina in Tatra County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. Its seat is the village of Poronin, which lies approximately north-east of Zakopane and south of the regional capital Kraków.... |
rural | 83.6 | 10,706 | Poronin Poronin Poronin , is a village in southern Poland situated in Tatra County of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship since 1999 . It lies approximately north-east of Zakopane and south of the regional capital Kraków.-References:... |
| Gmina Kościelisko Gmina Koscielisko Gmina Kościelisko is a rural gmina in Tatra County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland, on the Slovak border... |
rural | 136.4 | 8,035 | Kościelisko |
| Gmina Biały Dunajec | rural | 35.5 | 6,780 | Biały Dunajec |