Environmentalists condemn people who like to refresh themselves - and their pets - in the summer heat by taking a dip in the tarns of the High Tatra Mountains. They warn that this could seriously damage local eco-systems. "The Tatra tarns are sensitive eco-systems; they're home to many minor species, unique glacial relicts and species inhabiting only certain locations, and even small changes to their living environment could lead to their extinction," says Pavol Majko, director of the Tatra National Park Administration. One key problem is that populations of these species do not exist elsewhere or live too far away to be replenished.
The Tatra National Park is visited by 3.5-4 million tourists each year. According to Pavol Majko, if only a quarter of these people bathed in the tarns, the local eco-systems would be damaged irreversibly.
Tarns can also be damaged by seemingly innocent activities such as walking on ground beyond the tourist paths near the shores, an activity that leads to soil erosion and harms plants.
"Another factor is the effect of bathing on the chemical composition of the water. Sunscreen, deodorants and insect repellents contain substances that can be released into the water when bathing," says Majko, adding that these cause a hormonal imbalance in organisms and can also damage individual cells. Individuals caught bathing in High Tatra tarns can be fined up to €66.
The High Tatras have been chosen by Lonely Planet's travel experts as this year's top destination in Europe. The head of the tourist organisation Veronika Littvová believes that this recognition will bring more foreign visitors to the Tatras, while adding that the number of visitors needs to be regulated so that it does not harm the natural protection of the area.
