- Rysy
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Rysy 
Northern summitElevation 2,503 m (8,212 ft) [1] Prominence 163 m (535 ft) [1] Listing Country high point Translation scratches or crevices (Polish and Slovak) Location Location in Poland (on the Slovakia border)
RysyLocation Poland / Slovakia Range High Tatras Coordinates 49°10′46″N 20°5′17″E / 49.17944°N 20.08806°ECoordinates: 49°10′46″N 20°5′17″E / 49.17944°N 20.08806°E[1] Geology Type Granite Climbing Easiest route Hiking Rysy (Polish pronunciation: [ˈrɨsɨ]; German: Meeraugspitze, Hungarian: Tengerszem-csúcs) is a mountain in the crest of the High Tatras, lying on the border between Poland and Slovakia. Rysy has three peaks: the middle at 2,503 m (8,212 ft); the north-western at 2,499 m (8,199 ft); and the south-eastern at 2,473 m (8,114 ft). The north-western peak is the highest point of Poland; the other two peaks are on the Slovak side of the border, in the Prešov Region.
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Name
Experts assume that the Polish and Slovak name Rysy, meaning "scratches" or "crevices", refers to a series of gullies, either those on the western slopes of Żabie Ridge or the very prominent 500 m (1,600 ft) high gully and numerous smaller ones on the northern side. A folk explanation on the Slovak side says that the name comes from the plural word rysy meaning "lynxes", although the habitat of the lynx does not extend above the timberline.
The Hungarian name Tengerszem-csúcs and the German name Meeraugspitze mean "eye-of-the-sea peak", from the glacial lake at the northern foot of the mountain, called "eye of the sea" (Morskie Oko in Polish).
History
The first known ascent was made in 1840, by Ede Blásy and his guide Ján Ruman-Driečny, Sr. The first winter ascent was completed in 1884, by Theodor Wundt and Jakob Horvay. In the 20th century, the communist authorities used to forward the undocumented supposition that Vladimir Lenin climbed the mountain sometime in the early 1910s.
Tourism
A colorful outhouse of Chata pod Rysami
Rysy is the highest peak in the Tatra Mountains that is accessible to individual tourists on foot without a mountain guide. It is possible to ascend the peak from the Slovak side, starting at Štrbské pleso and passing Chata pod Rysami, a mountain chalet at an altitude of 2,250 m (7,380 ft), open during the summer season (May–October). The mountain can also be ascended from the Polish side coming from the Morskie Oko lake, which is a harder and steeper route. In the period November 1 - June 15, the trail on the Slovak side is closed.
The former border crossing at the summit.The border can be crossed between 16 June and 31 October - for only in this period is the trail open on the Slovak side. After the Polish and Slovak Republic to the Schengen Agreement in 2007 was liquidated to tourist border crossing features, however, under the provisions of the border at this point can be easily exceeded. Note, however, that despite the absence of border controls when traveling to another European Union country, you need to possess some identity document (ID card or passport).
See also
- Orla Perć
- Tourism in Poland
- Geography of Poland
- Geography of Slovakia
- Tatra Volunteer Search and Rescue (Poland)
- Mountain Rescue Service (Slovakia)
- List of highest paved roads in Europe
- List of mountain passes
References
External links
- TOPR - Polish Tatra Mountain Rescue Service
- Additional photos
- Rysy at Peakbagger.com
- Chalet below the Rysy peak
- Additional information including some photos
3D Panorama
Categories:- Mountains of Poland
- Mountains of Slovakia
- Mountains of the Carpathians
- Poland–Slovakia border
- International mountains of Europe
- High Tatras
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