The Tatra Mountains are one of the most picturesque mountain ranges in the Carpathians. Although it is a small mountain chain, with an area of 750 sq. km, it possesses a pronounced Alpine character.The range dominates adjacent areas like a rocky island and its grandeur is increased by low altitude of four surrounding basins: Podhale, Spisz, Liptów and Orawa. The Tatras, seen from these basins, give the impression of a huge mountain chain. Although the highest range on the vast area of Europe between the Alps and the Caucasus, in fact, the Tatras cannot be counted among the highest mountains. The elevations in the Tatras hardly reach the snow line and, as a result, glaciers - the symbol of high mountains - are absent from here.

The case study area – Kasprowy Wierch Mt. region is situated in the central part of the Tatras, at the eastern edge of the Western Tatras, adjacent to the magnificent High Tatras over Liliowe Pass.

The main goal of this project was to assess the avalanche risk in the study area and to visualize the results. I hope that this can help the planning of all winter activities and to increase their safety.

The region of the Kasprowy Wierch Mt. has a high frequency of snow avalanches due to the presence of long and steep slopes. On the other hand, for a long time it has been a very popular tourist destination and has a high level of tourist infrastructure development (mountain hotels, ski lifts and ski routes). Therefore in this region the highest number of incidents related to avalanches is recorded.

Every year in the Tatry Mts. several tourists are killed by snow avalanches. Recently, in February 2003 seven students were killed in one major avalanche in the vicinity of Rysy (2499 m a.s.l.).

According to records carried on by Polish mountain rescue service more than 40% of victims of death accidents related to avalanches are those tourists who carry out either high mountain ski-touring or who walk out of the marked paths. Only 5% of accidents occur on marked paths or ski-routes.