Krokiew, Tatra National Park

Krokiew - a two-topped coniferous hill in the Tatra Mountains above Zakopane, located between the Bystrya Valley and the Bialy Valley. On its slopes a ski-jumping complex was built, which includes Wielka Krokiew and the Średnia Krokiewi ski-jumping complex.

The massif of Krokwi is built of Middle Triassic dolomites. The lower peak with an altitude of 1365 m is called Mała Krokiew and is separated from Krokiew by a wide Siwarowy Saddle. From the massif of Giewont, or more accurately from Kalacka Kopa Krokiew is separated by Niżnią and Wyżnią Przełęcz Bialy. From Siwarowy Saddle falls to the west Siwarowy Gleb, and to the east Szeroki Gleb, which runs the yellow hiking trail to the Albertine monastery on Śpiąca Góra, located on the slopes of Krokiew. A small, forested Dolina nad Capkami approaches the summit from the north. The north-eastern arm of Krokwi bifurcates at an altitude of over 1200 m into two ridges encompassing Żleb nad Kamieniołomem. The north-western arm also splits at a similar altitude, and between its branches cuts into the Gleb pod Kogutkami.

In the ridge separating the Dolina nad Capkami from the Ż Żleb pod Kogutkami rises the Jastrzębia Turnia, and on the other side of the Żleb there are two little towers - the Kogutki. Other rocky places in the massif of Krokwi are: the cascade on the right slope of Dolina nad Capkami and Koryciska - a very steep slope with rock walls descending to the White Valley, near its outlet.

Krokiew is covered with dense forests, which in part constitute an enclave of the upper reglave surrounded by the lower regla. There is a rich fauna here, including lynx, deer, bears, capercaillie and black grouse. From the rare plants there is a leafless sturgeon - a species found in Poland only in the Tatra Mountains and only in a few places. To the north of the hill in the years 1908-1934 and during the German occupation there was a quarry, and on the western slopes descending to the White Valley there are two adits after the Soviet uranium exploration in the years 1950-53.

The name of the hill comes from the similarity of its shape on the north side to rafters, a wooden structure used in roof trusses. The rafter was formerly called the Tan Top.