Orava, My Native Region

Orava is a beautiful countryside with many cultural and historical sights. It has interesting
buildings and lots of places for hiking, winter sports, water sports, hunting, and relaxing.

Geography

Orava is a very hilly region in the north of Slovakia, located on the border with Poland. Its area is 1,661 square kilometres. It is part of the Žilina Province and consists of three districts:
Dolný Kubín – the oldest, Námestovo – the largest in both area and population, and Tvrdošín – the smallest.

Several mountain ranges form the natural borders of Orava. One of the most popular is the
West Tatra Mountains, where you can find Roháče, a part of the Tatra National Park. The
highest peak in Roháče is Baníkov (2,187 meters). Orava’s Beskydy range, located on the border with Poland, is the third-highest mountain range in Slovakia. Its highest peak is Babia
Hora.

People visit Orava for its high mountains, waterfalls, and lakes. The forests there are full of different mushrooms and forest fruits, such as blueberries, blackberries, and cranberries.

Rivers

The Orava River flows through the region, and the Slovak White Orava and Polish Black
Orava rivers flow into Orava Lake (The Orava Dam). The Orava Dam was built to stop
flooding in the villages. It is also called “the Orava Sea” and covers 35 square kilometers,
making it a great place for water sports. You can also find many mountain lakes in the Roháče.

Climate

Orava is the coldest region in Slovakia, with long and harsh winters and plenty of snow.
Snow can cover the area from November to April. The coldest months are December and
January, with temperatures ranging from -4°C (4°C below zero) to -20°C (20°C below zero).
Summers are short but very hot, with July and August being the warmest months, when
temperatures can reach around 30°C (30°C above zero).

Economy

The economy is made up of three main sectors: industry, agriculture, and tourism.

The industry includes the production of electronics. It focuses on making electronics and spare parts, with companies like Punch, Panasonic, and Hydak Tvrdošín. The region also has food processing, such as Oravan Podbieľ, which makes syrup and soft drinks. In
Trstená, there is chip production, and there is a printing company called Tlačiareň Kubik.
Handmade products are also made by private businesses in the region.

The agriculture has always been a major part of Orava’s economy. The main activities include pig, sheep, and cattle farming. They also grow wheat, barley, corn, and potatoes, which are used to prepare some of Orava’s local dishes.

The tourism in Orava offers beautiful castles, caves, traditional houses, and mountains. Visitors can explore these places to enjoy the local history and stunning views.

Handmade Products:

Typical regional products include a variety of items made from sheep’s and cow’s milk, such as:

Hard sheep’s cheese
Twisted stripe cheese
Smoked cheese

Additionally, there are many traditional handmade products, including:

Ornamental embroidery found on Goral folk costumes and tablecloths
Beautifully woven carpets
Wooden items, such as furniture and utensils

Question Time
Part 1

Where is Orava situated? Provide some facts about its geography, including its
mountains, rivers, lakes, and other features.
What is the climate like in Orava?
What are the most significant branches of the economy? Include information about
agriculture, breeding, and typical regional products, as well as well-known industrial
companies located there.

Significant Personalities

The Orava region is the birthplace of many great individuals:

Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav, a famous Slovak poet, was born in Vyšný Kubín. His museum is located in the district town of Dolný Kubín.

Anton Bernolák, the first person to set the rules for the Slovak language, was born in Slanica. You can see his statue on “The Slanica Island of Art.” A modern boat takes visitors to the island regularly.

Martin Kukučin, a well-known writer, was born in the small Orava village of Jasenová.

Janko Matuška was born in Dolný Kubín and is the author of the Slovak national anthem.

Margita Figuli, a well-known Slovak writer famous for her stories about feelings and the
beauty of nature, was born in Vyšný Kubín in the same house as P. O. Hviezdoslav.

Many Slovak writers have created important stories. They write about topics like love, nature, and national identity, reflecting Slovakia’s culture and history.

Question Time
Part 2

Name some famous personalities from the Orava region and provide more details about them.

Sightseeing

Orava Castle

Orava Castle is a historical treasure that attracts thousands of tourists each year. It sits on a
112-meter-high cliff above the Orava River, in the village of Oravský Podzámok. The castle
was built in the 13th century. Visitors can explore interesting exhibits, including the castle
chapel, knight’s hall, picture gallery, and exhibits on animals, plants, and nature.

Tvrdošín

Tvrdošín is a district town in the Upper Orava region. The town’s main attraction is the
Wooden Roman Catholic Church of All Saints, built in the 15th century. The church is a
UNESCO World Heritage site and has a beautiful wooden altar. Today, the church is mostly used for special events like weddings, but it also welcomes tourists.

The last stop for many visitors to the town is The Gallery of Mária Medvecká, a famous painter from Orava. In her paintings, she used dark colors like green, gray, and brown to show her connection to the Orava landscape. She often painted people at work, scenes from Orava, and portraits of women.

Oravice

Oravice is a place with thermal pools that offer healing baths and relaxing treatments. The
water temperature is between 36 to 38°C and helps with muscle and joint problems, as well as problems with the urinary tract and kidneys.

Rio de Klin

Rio de Klin is home to the tallest statue of Jesus Christ the Redeemer in Slovakia. This statue, in the village of Klin, is a replica of the one in Rio de Janeiro. There is also a beautiful Calvary where many people come to pray.

Zuberec

Zuberec is the gateway village to the Roháče Mountains. Just 3 kilometers away is Brestová, an open-air museum showing traditional Orava village life. It has displays of wooden houses, churches, and workshops. The area around Zuberec also has many walking and cross- country skiing trails.

Island Slanica

Slanica Island is in the Orava Dam, near Námestovo. It was created when the dam was built, and all the other villages were flooded, except for this hill. On the island, you can see:

The statue of Anton Bernolák
An exhibition of traditional folk art
A church with Slovak folk sculptures and paintings.

Question Time
Part 3

What are some must-see places in Orava?

Orava Traditions

Orava has many unique traditions that show its culture and heritage. Here are some of
them:

Taking a tree from the forest to decorate for May Day. It is decorated with colorful ribbons and put up by men for the women they love.
Every meal starts with soup.
Keeping fish in the bathtub before Christmas.
On Easter Monday, men whip women with wicker whips and splash them with water to guarantee beauty and health for the whole year.
Folklore, especially dance and music, is still very popular.
Saturday is a cleaning day.
On Sunday, people go to church.

Popular winter sports in Orava include:

Skiing
Snowboarding
Cross-Country Skiing
Ice Hockey

Popular summer sports include:

Football – The most popular sport in Orava.
Floorball
Cycling
Running
Swimming
Hiking

Culinary Traditions in Orava

People in Orava are big foodies who love a variety of delicious dishes, including:

Potato pancakes
Sweet pancakes
Elephant ears
Dumplings with sheep cheese and fried bacon
Vienna schnitzel with potato salad
Sauerkraut soup, packed with smoked meat, sausages, mushrooms, and potatoes
Cheese products, such as twisted cheese strips, smoked cheese, and steamed cheese

These hearty dishes show the area’s rich food traditions!

Question time
Part 4