Wielka Koszysta, Tatra National Park

Wielka Koszysta - a peak in the High Tatras, the highest point of the Koszystej Ridge, separating the Waksmundzka Valley from the Pańszczycy Valley. It is one of the northernmost two-thousanders in the Tatra Mountains.

The peak is the middle of the three peaks in the Koszystá range. From the north it borders with Mala Koszysta, from the south with Waksmundzki Wierch.

In the rocky eastern ridge of the Ve¾ká Koszystá there rises a crag called the Waksmundzka Watchtower. From the western side to the Pañszczyca valley from under the top descend the gullies: Cesarka and Barani ¯leb.

First recorded ascent: Ludwik Zejszner on August 3, 1838 with a group of accompanying persons, while measuring altitude with a barometer, in winter: Henryk Bednarski, Józef Lesiecki, Mariusz Zaruski, Stanisław Zdyb on March 4, 1910. Both ascents took place from the Krzyżne side. Wielka Koszysta is the most visited peak in the ridge.

In 1932 the whole Koszystá massif was bought from the Uznański family by the State Treasury and in 1936 as a result of efforts of PTT it was placed under strict protection. Until now it is a strictly protected area and there are no tourist trails leading through it.

The origin of the name Koszysta is unknown, perhaps it comes from mowing the surrounding meadows, formerly grazed.