Żywiec-Kysuce Beskid Mountains
Żywiec-Kysuce Beskid Mountains – a mountain range located on the Polish-Slovak border (Żywiec-Kysuce), the western part of the Żywiec Beskids, including the massifs of Wielka Racza, Wielka Rycerzowa, Oszus and Krawców Wierch. Separated as a mesoregion belonging to the Western Beskids according to the physical and geographical regionalization of Poland from 2018 by a team of geographers led by Jerzy Solon.
The region covers an area of 490.8 km², of which 36.1% (i.e. 177 km²) falls on the northern part within the borders of Poland, where the system of valleys carved by the source streams of the Soła takes on a characteristic tree structure. It is composed of flysch rocks of the Magura Nappe. Unlike the neighboring Żywiec-Orawa Beskid Mountains, the absolute heights are lower and there are fewer levels of vegetation – the upper border of the lower montane region is made up of stunted beeches, the typical upper montane region is only traces, and there are no higher levels. The arrangement of the ridges is also different – the Żywiec-Kysuce Beskid Mountains are long and level peaks, with extensive side arms.
The highest peaks are Wielka Racza (1,236 m), Wielka Rycerzowa (1,226 m), Mała Rycerzowa (1,207 m), Jaworzyna (1,173 m), Muńcuł (1,165 m).
Forests dominate the land cover. The natural beech and fir habitats of the lower montane region have been significantly transformed as a result of human forest management, through artificial plantings of spruce. The remains of the Carpathian primary forest are protected in several reserves, including: Śrubita, Muńcoł, Oszast. Large-scale forms of nature protection include the Żywiec Landscape Park on the Polish side, and the “Kysuce” Protected Landscape Area and the “Horná Orava” Protected Landscape Area on the Slovak side.
Hikes related to the object ŻYWIEC-KYSUCE BESKID MOUNTAINS:
