76 



AUSTEIA-HUNGAEY. 



to Pressburg rises tlie most elevated crest of the Little Carpathians (2,675 feet), 

 separated by another depression from the White Mountains (3,170 feet), thus called 

 on account of their bare dolomite summits, and from other ranges, including the 

 Javornik (3,320 feet) and the Wysoka (3,34G feet), which gradually swerve round 

 to the east to the Pass of Jablunka. Metamorphic slate enters largely into the 

 composition of this portion of the Carpathians, and forms veritable mountains, 

 whilst pastures and forests enhance the beauty of the scenery. 



Farther east, the mountain ranges, being intersected by the valleys of the 

 Vag (AVaag) and of its tributaries, are of very irregular configuration. They are 

 more savage in aspect, and attain a greater height, their culminating summit, the 



Fi"-. 48.— The Tatra. 



(z^imv sia^r 



5 Milea. 



Babia Gora, or "Women's Mountain," rising to an altitude of 5,644 feet. We are 

 approaching the most elevated mountain mass of the Carpathians. This is the Tâtra, 

 which rises about 30 miles to the south of the normal axis of the Carpathians, 

 between the valleys of the Yag and the Arva on the west, and those of the Poprad 

 and the Donjec on the east. If these valleys were to be dammed up, a lake almost 

 surrounding the Tâtra would be formed, and only a narrow neck of land would 

 connect it with the mountains in the interior of Hungary. 



Though far exceeding all other mountains of Hungary in height, the -Tâtra 

 cannot compare with the Alps, and none of its summits pierce the region of 

 perennial snow. In some sheltered crevasses patches of snow may indeed be seen 



