Valley of the Five Polish Ponds

The Valley of the Five Polish Lakes (Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich) is a picturesque high-altitude valley located in the High Tatras, stretching 4 km in length and 2 km in width, at an elevation of 1,625–1,900 meters above sea level. It is recognized as a post-glacial landform, characterized by a landscape of granite peaks and glacial lakes, including the largest of them all—Wielki Staw Polski. The valley boasts a rich history dating back to the 19th century when it first began attracting tourists, including notable figures such as Stanisław Staszic. The construction of hiking trails in the valley contributed significantly to the popularization of tourism in the Tatra Mountains. Interestingly, the history of mountain shelters in the valley dates to 1876, when the first shelter was built above Mały Staw. The current PTTK shelter above Przedni Staw, which is the highest-altitude shelter in the Polish part of the Tatras, was constructed between 1948 and 1953. The Valley of the Five Lakes was once used for grazing, and its protection began in the 1950s when the Tatra National Park took over management of the area. The valley is largely treeless, with the exception of a single larch tree, and its slopes are covered with mountain pine and unique alpine plants. The region is also home to wildlife such as bears, chamois, and lynxes. Despite its challenging topography, the valley is highly popular among hikers and ski mountaineers. The name of the valley, though originally a folk designation ("Pięciostawy"), was later changed to "Dolina Pięciu Stawów," which led to some confusion due to the existence of another valley with the same name in the Slovak Tatras. Today, efforts in local nomenclature focus on preserving and highlighting the uniqueness of both the Polish and Slovak valleys.