Ornak
Ornak is a mountain ridge, part of the northern arête of in the Polish Western Tatras. It separates from.
Origin of the name
The origin of the name Ornak is unknown. In 16th-century mining documents, it appears as Hornok. The ridge likely took its name from, a former pasture on its slopes. According to folk etymology, the name derives from the Podhale dialect word oreł, tied to a legend of an eagle carrying a seven-year-old boy aloft and dropping him to his death. However, the true etymology of the pasture and ridge remains unclear.Topography
Ornak is a lateral branch of the main Tatra arête, extending from between Klin and at the minor peak of. The long, massive ridge runs north from to, with several peaks: , , , and . These are separated by small passes:,, and.The ridge rises between 500 and 700 m above the surrounding valleys. The eastern slopes host the former pasture. Several couloirs descend into Starorobociańska Valley, including,,,, and. Into Pyszniańska Valley, couloirs include,, and the well-known. These couloirs are prone to avalanches in winter.
Description
Much of the Ornak ridge is exposed, offering expansive views, particularly of nearby Kominiarski Wierch, the Tomanowa and Pyszniańska valleys, and peaks like Ciemniak,,,,, and Starorobociański Wierch. The ridge is dangerous during thunderstorms.Composed of metamorphic rocks with some granite, the peak and northern sections feature quartzite sandstone. Since the 15th century, the massif hosted mines extracting colored metals, and from the 17th century, iron ore. Shepherds and miners frequented the area, with the first recorded winter ascents in 1910. The grassy ridge supports granite-loving flora, including Oreochloa disticha, Oreojuncus trifidus, numerous lichens, and northern firmoss. In spring, alpine bellflower, alpine pasqueflower, and other Tatra plants bloom profusely. Rare Polish species include Pedicularis hacquetii, few-flowered sedge, Erigeron hungaricus, and Bigelow's sedge. On the western slopes of Suchy Wierch Ornaczański, the westernmost known natural stand of Swiss pine in the Polish Tatras is found.