Czech female tourists wanted to enjoy an unconventional workout in the Tatras, but they chose the worst possible place. Naked, they entered directly into one of the protected meadows, where a strict ban applies. Their mistake was pointed out by the official Tatra Official profile on Instagram, which also published a video. This idea can cost them dearly.
Entering the Tatra lakes and swimming in them is among the activities that are strictly prohibited in the Tatra National Park (TANAP). Administrators remind that Tatra bogs represent unique and extremely sensitive mountain ecosystems that require maximum protection.
“Such behavior may seem harmless at first glance, but the rules of nature protection do not apply without reason,” emphasizes the Tatra Official profile, stating that despite the bans, women were caught in the act of deciding to enter one of the protected lakes and harden themselves in its waters.
In this context, the State Nature Protection (ŠOP) of the Slovak Republic has been warning for a long time that the creativity of visitors increases during the summer season, but the cold-loving species in the pools, such as the glacial relicts of the Northern sea bream and the copepod, cannot face rapid changes in the environment. In addition, bathing and hardening harms the chemistry of the water. Tourists unknowingly put sunscreen, deodorants or repellents in it. According to scientists, the synthetic substances and UV filters contained in them cause hormonal imbalance, cell damage and seriously disrupt their reproduction in Tatra animals. In addition, the very access to water destroys sensitive banks and protected vegetation.
Violation of nature protection rules can result in severe financial penalties. On the spot, the guards can issue a block fine of up to €300, but in the case of administrative proceedings, the penalty can go up to €3,319. The National Park has long appealed to people to respect the visiting regulations.
“We ask all visitors to the Tatras to respect the visiting regulations of the national park, not to enter the pools, not to bathe in them, not to harden in them and not to move outside the marked hiking trails,” concludes the post.
Three years ago, the then deputy Romana Tabáková also received a fine of 500 euros. At the time, she published a photo of herself bathing in a stream on the territory of TANAP on the social network, marking Studenovodské vodopády as the place, where the strictest level of protection applies. She then stated that she marked the location incorrectly. According to her own words, she was only aware of the ban on bathing in balls. She apologized for her actions.
Read more MP OĽANO mistook a strictly protected Tatra stream for a swimming pool
