Kasprowy Wierch
{{Short description|Mountain in Poland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = {{Noitalic|{{Lang|pl|Kasprowy Wierch}}}}
| other_name = {{Lang|sk|Kasprov vrch}}
Kasper Peak
| photo = 20161001 Widok ze Świnicy 1664.jpg
| photo_caption = View of Kasprowy Wierch and Giewont from Świnica peak
| elevation_m = 1987
| elevation_ref = {{cite opentopomap|Kasprowy Wierch|49.23179|19.98153|2023-07-04}}
| prominence_m =
| prominence_ref =
| range = Western Tatras
| listing = Mountains of Poland
| country = {{hlist|Poland|Slovakia}}
| map = Poland#Poland Lesser Poland Voivodeship#Slovakia Prešov Region#Slovakia
| map_caption = Location in Poland
| coordinates = {{coord|49|13|55|N|19|58|55|E|type:mountain|display=it}}
| coordinates_ref =
| topo =
| type =
| age =
| first_ascent = First winter tourist ascent by Poles: Klemens Bachleda and {{ill|Karol Potkański|pl}} in c. 1890
| easiest_route =
}}
Kasprowy Wierch ({{IPA|pl|kasˈprɔvɨ ˈvjɛrx}}; Slovak; Kasprov vrch; sometimes in Kasper Peak)Nuclear Science Abstracts 15(23), 1961, p. 3994. is a peak of a long crest in the Western Tatras one of Poland's main winter ski areas. Its dominant southern crests mark the border with Slovakia. It is accessible in most conditions by foot and daily by cablecar.{{Cite web |title=Góra Parkowa kolejka PKL {{!}} PKL Góra Parkowa |url=https://pkl.info.pl/gora-parkowa/koleje-pkl/kolej-gora-parkowa/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=pkl.info.pl |language=pl-PL}}
History
File:Kolejka na Kasprowy - panoramio (1).jpg
From 1910 onwards Kasprowy Wierch became very popular among ski tourists so much so an aerial tramway or téléphérique, reaching almost to the summit, was built between 1935 and 1936 as such it is one of the oldest in Europe. As part of its modernization, the cabin aerial ropeway was closed for a period until December 2007. In 1938 meteorological and astronomical observatories were built here. One of the faint Kordylewski clouds, at or circling the L4 and L5 Lagrange points of the moon, was first photographed here by Kazimierz Kordylewski in 1961.
Geography
The mountain is at the crossroads of four crests, two of which coincide with footpaths, incorporating steps, bounding Poland and Slovakia and in times without snow the steep paths heading into both countries south and north are quite easily traversable. The peak itself is just north of the border, which is deemed to be a straight line relative to the two dominant ridges.
Crossing the border between Poland and Slovakia is not restricted, since both countries are members of the Schengen area. Users of the cable car change cars midway in their ascent/descent, at Mount Myślenicke Turnie. At the top station is a restaurant and information office building with further ski lifts outside.
The mountain is popular among hikers from Poland, because of its easy accessibility, both on foot and by the cable car. However, it is much less visited from the Slovak side, because the ascent from the nearest settlement in Slovakia involves a lengthy (17 km) approach up a remote valley Tichá dolina.
=Climate=
Without the existence of a summer, the climate is of tundra (Köppen: ET), as found in the highest areas of the Alps.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kasprowy-wierch.climatemps.com/|title=Kasprowy Wierch Climate Kasprowy Wierch Temperatures Kasprowy Wierch Weather Averages|website=www.kasprowy-wierch.climatemps.com|access-date=18 July 2019}}
{{Weather box
| width = 77%
| metric first = y
| single line = y
| location = Kasprowy Wierch (ridge), elevation {{convert|1991|m|abbr=on|disp=or}} (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present)
| Jan record high C = 8.1
| Feb record high C = 9.9
| Mar record high C = 9.4
| Apr record high C = 14.2
| May record high C = 18.7
| Jun record high C = 22.6
| Jul record high C = 23.4
| Aug record high C = 22.5
| Sep record high C = 19.8
| Oct record high C = 16.9
| Nov record high C = 13.9
| Dec record high C = 8.8
| year record high C = 23.4
| Jan avg record high C = 3.1
| Feb avg record high C = 2.6
| Mar avg record high C = 4.1
| Apr avg record high C = 8.2
| May avg record high C = 13.4
| Jun avg record high C = 17.9
| Jul avg record high C = 19.1
| Aug avg record high C = 18.7
| Sep avg record high C = 14.4
| Oct avg record high C = 11.9
| Nov avg record high C = 7.5
| Dec avg record high C = 4.6
| year avg record high C = 20.3
| Jan avg record low C = -19.2
| Feb avg record low C = -19.4
| Mar avg record low C = -16.3
| Apr avg record low C = -12.5
| May avg record low C = -6.3
| Jun avg record low C = -2.2
| Jul avg record low C = 0.0
| Aug avg record low C = 0.1
| Sep avg record low C = -4.1
| Oct avg record low C = -9.8
| Nov avg record low C = -13.7
| Dec avg record low C = -17.6
| year avg record low C = -21.9
| Jan high C = -4.6
| Feb high C = -5.0
| Mar high C = -3.3
| Apr high C = 1.2
| May high C = 6.0
| Jun high C = 10.1
| Jul high C = 12.1
| Aug high C = 12.3
| Sep high C = 7.5
| Oct high C = 3.9
| Nov high C = 0.0
| Dec high C = -3.5
| year high C = 3.1
| Jan mean C = -7.4
| Feb mean C = -7.8
| Mar mean C = -6.1
| Apr mean C = -1.6
| May mean C = 3.0
| Jun mean C = 6.7
| Jul mean C = 8.6
| Aug mean C = 8.9
| Sep mean C = 4.6
| Oct mean C = 1.2
| Nov mean C = -2.6
| Dec mean C = -6.1
| year mean C = 0.1
| Jan low C = -10.1
| Feb low C = -10.5
| Mar low C = -8.7
| Apr low C = -4.0
| May low C = 0.6
| Jun low C = 4.1
| Jul low C = 6.0
| Aug low C = 6.4
| Sep low C = 2.2
| Oct low C = -1.3
| Nov low C = -5.1
| Dec low C = -8.8
| year low C = -2.4
| Jan record low C = -30.2
| Feb record low C = -29.1
| Mar record low C = -27.9
| Apr record low C = -18.1
| May record low C = -13.0
| Jun record low C = -7.6
| Jul record low C = -3.1
| Aug record low C = -4.5
| Sep record low C = -8.2
| Oct record low C = -15.2
| Nov record low C = -24.8
| Dec record low C = -28.0
| year record low C = -30.2
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 105.1
| Feb precipitation mm = 98.0
| Mar precipitation mm = 112.7
| Apr precipitation mm = 127.3
| May precipitation mm = 186.0
| Jun precipitation mm = 208.0
| Jul precipitation mm = 248.1
| Aug precipitation mm = 171.6
| Sep precipitation mm = 158.5
| Oct precipitation mm = 123.4
| Nov precipitation mm = 117.6
| Dec precipitation mm = 107.5
| year precipitation mm = 1763.8
| Jan snow depth cm = 92.7
| Feb snow depth cm = 130.5
| Mar snow depth cm = 153.3
| Apr snow depth cm = 147.9
| May snow depth cm = 67.9
| Jun snow depth cm = 14.4
| Jul snow depth cm = 0.7
| Aug snow depth cm = 1.2
| Sep snow depth cm = 9.0
| Oct snow depth cm = 15.1
| Nov snow depth cm = 27.2
| Dec snow depth cm = 56.1
| year snow depth cm =
| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 19.8
| Feb precipitation days = 18.6
| Mar precipitation days = 20.2
| Apr precipitation days = 18.3
| May precipitation days = 21.0
| Jun precipitation days = 20.0
| Jul precipitation days = 19.6
| Aug precipitation days = 16.3
| Sep precipitation days = 15.6
| Oct precipitation days = 16.8
| Nov precipitation days = 17.8
| Dec precipitation days = 19.0
| year precipitation days = 223.0
| unit snow days = 0 cm
| Jan snow days = 31
| Feb snow days = 28.3
| Mar snow days = 30.9
| Apr snow days = 30.0
| May snow days = 20.6
| Jun snow days = 3.3
| Jul snow days = 0.4
| Aug snow days = 0.4
| Sep snow days = 5.9
| Oct snow days = 13.7
| Nov snow days = 21.3
| Dec snow days = 30.6
| year snow days = 216.4
| Jan humidity = 77.6
| Feb humidity = 80.5
| Mar humidity = 83.8
| Apr humidity = 84.3
| May humidity = 86.8
| Jun humidity = 87.7
| Jul humidity = 86.6
| Aug humidity = 84.5
| Sep humidity = 86.2
| Oct humidity = 80.9
| Nov humidity = 82.0
| Dec humidity = 78.6
| year humidity = 83.3
| Jan sun = 88.9
| Feb sun = 91.2
| Mar sun = 117.1
| Apr sun = 154.1
| May sun = 157.5
| Jun sun = 153.8
| Jul sun = 166.5
| Aug sun = 179.3
| Sep sun = 130.8
| Oct sun = 121.3
| Nov sun = 83.8
| Dec sun = 80.7
| year sun = 1524.8
| Jan percentsun = 26
| Feb percentsun = 29
| Mar percentsun = 32
| Apr percentsun = 41
| May percentsun = 39
| Jun percentsun = 39
| Jul percentsun = 41
| Aug percentsun = 46
| Sep percentsun = 36
| Oct percentsun = 34
| Nov percentsun = 25
| Dec percentsun = 24
| year percentsun = 35
| source 1 = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211203115527/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TSR_AVE
| archive-date = 3 December 2021
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TSR_AVE
| title = Średnia dobowa temperatura powietrza
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management
| language = pl
| access-date = 22 January 2022}}
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115043924/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TMIN_AVE
| archive-date = 15 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TMIN_AVE
| title = Średnia minimalna temperatura powietrza
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management
| language = pl
| access-date = 22 January 2022}}
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115044916/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TMAX_AVE
| archive-date = 15 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TMAX_AVE
| title = Średnia maksymalna temperatura powietrza
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management
| language = pl
| access-date = 22 January 2022}}
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220109045820/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/OPAD_SUMA
| archive-date = 9 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/OPAD_SUMA
| title = Miesięczna suma opadu
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management
| language = pl
| access-date = 22 January 2022}}
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115051112/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/OPAD_01
| archive-date = 15 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/OPAD_01
| title = Liczba dni z opadem >= 0,1 mm
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management
| language = pl
| access-date = 22 January 2022}}
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115054936/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/SNIEG_SR_GRUB
| archive-date = 15 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/SNIEG_SR_GRUB
| title = Średnia grubość pokrywy śnieżnej
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management
| language = pl
| access-date = 22 January 2022}}
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220121044246/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/SNIEG_0
| archive-date = 21 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/SNIEG_0
| title = Liczba dni z pokrywą śnieżna > 0 cm
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management
| language = pl
| access-date = 22 January 2022}}
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115055331/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/USL
| archive-date = 15 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/USL
| title = Średnia suma usłonecznienia (h)
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management
| language = pl
| access-date = 22 January 2022}}
| source 2 = Meteomodel.pl (extremes and humidity)
{{cite web
| url = https://meteomodel.pl/dane/srednie-miesieczne/?imgwid=349190650&par=tmax&max_empty=3
| title = Kasprowy Wierch Absolutna temperatura maksymalna
| date = 6 April 2018
| publisher = Meteomodel.pl
| language = pl
| access-date = 23 March 2023}}
{{cite web
| url = https://meteomodel.pl/dane/srednie-miesieczne/?imgwid=349190650&par=tmin&max_empty=3
| title = Kasprowy Wierch Absolutna temperatura minimalna
| date = 6 April 2018
| publisher = Meteomodel.pl
| language = pl
| access-date = 22 January 2022}}
{{cite web
| url = https://meteomodel.pl/dane/srednie-miesieczne/?imgwid=349190650&par=rh&max_empty=3
| title = Kasprowy Wierch Średnia wilgotność
| date = 6 April 2018
| publisher = Meteomodel.pl
| language = pl
| access-date = 22 January 2022}}
| source =
}}
Cable cars and chairlifts
The cable cars are extremely popular and tourists regularly have to wait up to 3 hours to buy tickets – roughly the same time it would take to ascend the mountain on foot. The cable car service has caused environmental concerns and protests in 1935 and 2006.
In 1961–1962 and in 1967–1968 chairlifts were built on the slopes and they run in two sections.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.zakopaneonline.pl/webcam3 Zakopane – Kasprowy Wierch webcam]
- [http://www.pkl.pl/index.php?strona,menu,pol,glowna,0,0,1403,angielski,ant.html Kasprowy Wierch cable-car] – access information.
{{commons|Kasprowy Wierch}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Mountains of Slovakia
Category:Poland–Slovakia border