The High Tatras mountains are situated in the northern part of Slovakia, on the border with Poland. In 1949 it was declared to be the first Slovak national park (TANAP) and in 1993 it was together with the polish part of the Tatras mountains declared by the UNESCO to be the "Biospheric reservation of the Tatras". The High Tatras were created about 60 mil. years ago heaving up the granite massif above the level of the surrounding land. It gained its current appearance by the glacier activity 2 mil. years ago. The characteristic peaks (such as Gerlachovský Peak, Kriváň, Rysy, Lomnický Peak), deep valleys of glacier origin (Mengusovská Valley, The Grand and The Small Cold Valley), moraines and mountain lakes (Štrbské Mountain Lake, Skalnaté Mountain Lake ) were formed the same way, too. In the region, there are situated villages with numerous historical monuments (Kežmarok, Spišská Sobota, Poprad) and tourist centres (Old Smokovec, Štrbské Mountain Lake, Tatranská Lomnica and Ždiar) with a lot of accommodation facilities. From the above-mentioned centres you can start all day trips to the following attractive destinations (Low Tatras, Pieniny, Slovak Paradise, Levoča, St.Jacob Church, Spiš Castle, Plejsy).