Kékes

Kékes [ˈkeːkɛʃ] is Hungary's highest mountain, at 1,015 metres (3,330 ft) above sea level.[1] It lies 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) northeast of Gyöngyös,[2] in the Mátra range of Heves county. It is Hungary's third most popular tourist attraction, after Lake Balaton and the Danube, and has a number of hotels and skiing pistes. The Kékestető TV Tower stands at the summit.

Kékes
Highest point
Elevation1,015 m (3,330 ft)[1]
Prominence774 m (2,539 ft)[1]
ListingCountry high point
Coordinates47°52′44″N 20°0′37″E
Naming
English translationBluish
Language of nameHungarian
Geography
Kékes is located in Hungary
Kékes
Kékes
Hungary
LocationHeves county, Hungary
Parent rangeMátra, Western Carpathians

The name Kékes is derived from the mountain's often bluish colour. In Hungarian, the word kék means 'blue', while kékes means implicitly 'bluish'.

History

It is home to the former Pauline Monastery of Kékes.

Climate

Kékes Peak is the highest altitude region in Hungary, so it has the highest altitude weather station in the country. Although the mountain is still classified as a temperate humid continental climate (Dfb) according to the Köppen climate classification, it is very close to a subarctic climate (Dfc). Unlike cities in the plains such as Miskolc, which is also classified as a humid continental climate (Dfb), it is closer to a oceanic climate (Cfb) and may even be subtropical humid (Cfa). The annual average temperature of Kékes is 6.4 °C (43.5 °F), which is about 5 °C (9.0 °F) lower than that of Budapest or Miskolc. August is the warmest month with an average temperature of 16.4 °C (61.5 °F); January is the coldest month with −3.4 °C (25.9 °F). Temperature extremes ranged from −22.6 °C (−8.7 °F) in 1987 to 31.4 °C (88.5 °F) on July 20, 2007.

Climate data for Kékestető (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1973−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 12.2
(54.0)
13.9
(57.0)
21.0
(69.8)
22.4
(72.3)
25.6
(78.1)
29.7
(85.5)
31.4
(88.5)
30.4
(86.7)
25.8
(78.4)
22.0
(71.6)
17.4
(63.3)
12.5
(54.5)
31.4
(88.5)
Average high °C (°F) −1.4
(29.5)
−0.2
(31.6)
3.4
(38.1)
10.1
(50.2)
14.6
(58.3)
18.0
(64.4)
20.0
(68.0)
19.9
(67.8)
14.5
(58.1)
9.3
(48.7)
4.0
(39.2)
−0.7
(30.7)
9.3
(48.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) −3.4
(25.9)
−2.7
(27.1)
0.6
(33.1)
6.3
(43.3)
10.9
(51.6)
14.5
(58.1)
16.3
(61.3)
16.4
(61.5)
11.3
(52.3)
6.6
(43.9)
1.9
(35.4)
−2.5
(27.5)
6.4
(43.5)
Average low °C (°F) −5.3
(22.5)
−4.7
(23.5)
−1.8
(28.8)
3.7
(38.7)
8.0
(46.4)
11.5
(52.7)
13.4
(56.1)
13.9
(57.0)
9.1
(48.4)
4.6
(40.3)
0.1
(32.2)
−4.3
(24.3)
4.0
(39.2)
Record low °C (°F) −22.6
(−8.7)
−19.8
(−3.6)
−19.4
(−2.9)
−9.7
(14.5)
−4.0
(24.8)
1.0
(33.8)
4.5
(40.1)
1.0
(33.8)
−3.0
(26.6)
−8.0
(17.6)
−13.0
(8.6)
−18.7
(−1.7)
−22.6
(−8.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 41.5
(1.63)
50.0
(1.97)
47.9
(1.89)
58.9
(2.32)
94.3
(3.71)
82.2
(3.24)
105.7
(4.16)
80.5
(3.17)
67.6
(2.66)
66.2
(2.61)
67.2
(2.65)
52.0
(2.05)
814.0
(32.05)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 6.9 7.6 7.5 8.2 10.3 9.5 9.6 7.5 7.3 7.4 8.0 8.0 97.8
Average snowy days 10.8 10.8 8.6 5.4 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 1.7 6.9 10.8 55.9
Average relative humidity (%) 84.1 82.0 77.0 68.1 73.0 74.3 72.2 70.3 75.9 81.6 84.7 82.7 77.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours 89.8 100.1 144.2 174.7 221.0 238.9 268.0 237.9 189.4 166.7 97.4 77.4 2,005.4
Percent possible sunshine 33 36 40 43 48 51 56 55 51 51 36 30 46
Source: NOAA (snow days and sunshine 1967-1994)[3][4][5]

Road cycling

For road bicycle racing enthusiasts, the mountain can be climbed by two main routes.

  • South from Gyöngyös: 839 m over 17.8 km. This is the most famous and difficult ascent.
  • North from Parád: 775 m over 16.9 km. About equal in difficulty as the Bédoin ascent, but better sheltered against the climb.

Tour de Hongrie stage finishes

Year Stage Start of stage Distance (km) Category Stage winner Yellow jersey
2021 4 Balassagyarmat 202.2 1  Damien Howson (AUS)  Damien Howson (AUS)
2020 4 Miskolc 187.8 1  Attila Valter (HUN)  Attila Valter (HUN)
2019 4 Karcag 138.1 1  Krists Neilands (LAT)  Krists Neilands (LAT)
2016 4 Karcag 144 1  Chris Butler (USA)  Mihkel Räim (EST)
2015 4 Karcag 146 1  Andi Bajc (SLO)  Tom Thill (LUX)
2005 6 Mátraháza 3.4 (ITT) -  Tamás Lengyel (HUN)  Tamás Lengyel (HUN)
2005 5 Mezőkövesd 93 1  Glen Chadwick (NZL)  Tamás Lengyel (HUN)
2004 5 Mezőkövesd 148 1  Anatolij Varvaruk (UKR)  Zoltán Remák (SVK)
2003 5 Mátraháza 3.4 (ITT) -  Tamás Lengyel (HUN)  Zoltán Remák (SVK)
2003 4 Miskolc 127.3 1  Matija Kvasina (CRO)  Zoltán Remák (SVK)
2001 3 Tiszaújváros 174 1  Mikoš Rnjaković (SCG)  Mikoš Rnjaković (SCG)

See also

References

  • Media related to Kékes at Wikimedia Commons


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