AGH University and JU scholars behind new Tatra National Park facility

“We emphasise the importance of the role of rock avalanches, as the Tatras are the only place in Poland with such high-energy and spectacular mass movements. At present, they usually take the form of small rockfalls, but in the past there were some really powerful avalanches. They were even up to a few hundred metres long and moved blocks of rock as large as a detached house. At the exhibition, you will be able to watch a reconstruction of one of such avalanches which took place in Pleistocene, so ca. 2.6 million years ago,” Dr Zasadni says.

“We, too, had the chance to disseminate the results of our research on various issues, like the matter of glaciers, glacial sculpting, and rock avalanches,” he mentions.

“Series of sedimentary rocks, faults, overlying nappes, all being the subject of the exhibition, are clearly visible in the Valley’s landscape. Whereas, when we reach the shelter in Hala Ornak or Przysłop Miętusi [a mountain pass], we shall find ourselves in a moraine zone shaped by glaciers. In turn, in Dolina Miętusia [a valley], as a matter of fact also located in close vicinity of the exhibition, there are some of the best examples of rock avalanches from the Pleistocene, namely Wantule,” the AGH University researcher indicates.

“During the very short life, people do not take notice of the changes the planet is going through over millions of years. That is why it is so difficult for the layman to comprehend why we compare Tatras to the Amazon rainforest or Greenland. Meanwhile, the fragment of the earth’s crust forming the Tatra Mountains has quite literally come to its present spot from the south hemisphere, passing through all climate zones on its way. The Tatra granites were being formed at the same time as the Silesian coal seams, because everything was happening in the tropical equatorial climate. Then, it was a desert area, and more recently, from a geological perspective, it was ice-capped. The Tatras have been shaped by their history, just as every nation has been shaped by its history. As geologists, we can read the story from the rocks, just like historians describing the past based on various manuscripts. So we are dealing with a planetary archive located here, in the Tatra Mountains,” Dr Zasadni claims.

“Using the example of the Tatra Mountains, we have the opportunity to learn about processes that were global in nature. This allows us to gain awareness of what a valuable asset we have at our disposal. The goal of the exhibition, besides educating, is raising awareness of the necessity to protect this heritage. We count on the tourist to gain knowledge, see for how long these rocks and the landscape have been formed and how they have evolved, and understand how vital it is to protect them,” Dr Kłapyta points out.

“When we used to go on hikes in our mountains, they seemed kind of ordinary. Only when we saw the Tatra Mountains from far or on TV, did we think that these had been actual mountains. When we went there back in the day, as teenagers, we could feel their immensity and the space. It really stuck in my mind,” Dr Zasadni claims.

“The Tatra National Park is open to research, that is why our cooperation has worked from the very beginning. Hence the invite for us to participate in the curation of the exhibition,” the JU scholar states.

“Seeking balance between transfering knowledge and influencing emotions stood at the core of our actions. Owing to the cooperation with experts in mechanics, graphics, film, and animation, we have managed to create an exhibition not only of informative value but also visually attractive, one that engages the visitors,” Dr Zasadni indicates.