Carpathian, << kahr PAY thee uhn, >> Mountains are part of the great mountain system of central Europe. The Carpathians extend for about 900 miles (1,400 kilometers) along the Slovakia-Poland border and into Ukraine and Romania. Most of them lie in Slovakia and Romania. The highest elevation is Gerlachovsky Stit (8,711 feet, or 2,655 meters) in Slovakia’s Tatra Mountains.
The Carpathians are an extension of the mountain range that includes the Alps. But the Carpathian peaks are generally lower than the Alps and have fewer lakes, glaciers, and waterfalls. The Carpathians contain several mineral resources, including deposits of coal, natural gas, oil, and salt. Large quantities of timber come from the fir, oak, and beech forests that cover the lower slopes of the mountains. Wolves, lynx, and bears roam through these forests. Many fertile farms lie in the valleys of the Carpathian Mountains, especially in the region of Transylvania in Romania. People cross the mountains by using any of the narrow passes.
