Greater and Lesser Fatra
Fatra, Greater and Lesser
(in Slovak, Velká Fatra and Mala Fatra; in Hungarian, Nagy Fatra and Kis Fatra), mountain ranges in the Western Carpathians, west of the Tatra Mountains in Czechoslovakia. Elevations average 1,200–1,500 m and reach a maximum of 1,709 m in the Lesser Fatra Mountains. The mountains are composed primarily of granites, limestones, and dolomites. The slopes are deeply cut by gorges, and some of the peaks are rounded. Traces of ancient glaciation are found in the Lesser Fatra Mountains. Karst landscapes are well developed. Beech and coniferous forests grow on the slopes, and subalpine shrubs and meadows are found on the summits. There is tourism in the region.