Beskydy Mountains

The Beskids (Czech and Slovak: Beskydy, Polish: Beskidy) is a traditional name for a series of mountain ranges in the eastern part of Czech Republic, northwestern Slovakia, southern Poland and in Western Ukraine.

The Beskids begin in Moravia at the Moravian Gate, continue to the north of the Tatra Mountains and end in Ukraine. They are part of the Outer Western Carpathians, only the Lesser Beskids (Slovak: Nízke Beskydy, Polish: Beskid Niski) and the Bieszczady situated to the east of them are part of the Eastern Carpathians.

The name of the mountains probably comes from a Thracian or Illyrian origin. The Beskids are currently rich in forest and coal. In the past they were rich in iron ore, with important plants in Ostrava and Třinec.

There are many tourist attractions, especially the increasingly-popular skiing resorts.