Page:Czecho-Slovak Student Life, Volume 18.djvu/221

Tatras, an enormous mountain range mass with steep rock and quiet solitary lakes at the bottom of the abysses. Numerous resorts are scattered among their wooded foothills, of which many are mineral and thermal springs dating back for many centuries.

Their number, which no other country can equal, exceeds a hundred and fifty. Thousands of travellers come every year to Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad), Mariánské Lázně (Marianbad), and Františkovy Lázně. In their vicinity we find Jáchymov, the strongest radioactive health resort in the world. Near Prague we find Poděbrady, the well known “baths” of natural carbonic waters, which is a social and amusement centre as well as a health resort.

Luhačovice, a healing resort for the maladies of the respiratory organs, lies in a charming part of Moravia, where on Sundays and holidays one can still see the picturesque peasant costumes and hear cheerful voices singing popular national songs.

Slovakia has also a great number of spas and healthful mountain resorts. In the valley of the River Waag lie Pieštany, world famous for its hot thermal mudsprings, whose marvelous healing power is impressively attested by a large collection of forsaken broken crutches. From Pobrad, an express station on the Praha-Bratislava-Košice line and a starting point for the Tatras, three of the most beautiful High Tatras health resorts are easily accessible: Strbské Pleso, Nový Smokovec and Tatranská Lomnica. Trenčianska Teplice with its sulphurous waters and mild climate, Sliac with its unique carbonie springs in Europe, Lubochna and Herlany are