Dr. Kubassek János szerk.: A Kárpát-medence természeti értékei (Érd, 2004)

Dr. János Kubassek: Mosaics from the natural heritage of the Carpathian Basin

Vienna. Another great volume, Compendium Hungáriáé geographicum was written by him and published in Pozsony (Bratislava today) in 1753- This book proves his polyhistoric knowledge, all rounded interest and his European horizon. Mátyás Bél was most successful in exploring the regions of northern Hungary. In his descriptions he concentrated on the physical geography of Hungary, including the hydrographie conditions, mountains, valleys, caves, medicinal springs, minerals and flora. We should remember György Buchholtz (1643-1725), who contributed a lot to our knowledge of the Carpathian Mountains. He made detailed reports of his trips in the High Tatras. He was the first who described the regions of meadows, deciduous and coniferous forests, mountain pines and rocks according to their elevation above sea level. Therefore, he can be rightly considered as the first scientist who recognized the botanical zones in the High Tatras. Tamás Mauksch (1749-1832), an Evangelist pastor of Nagyszalók guided several scientists in the mountain world of the High Tatras. Pál Kitaibel (1757-1818) deserves special attention. He was a polyhistor and an explorer of the Carpathian Basin. He published the results of his geobotanical observations in three volumes. The book, Descriptiones et icônes plantarum rariorum Hungáriáé was published in Latin in Vienna between 1799 and 1812. Later, foreign researchers published methodically excellent books on the Carpathian Basin. Their works, however, do not put the results of the early Hungarian scientists in the shade. These European scientists brought the attention of other naturalists to the great natural treasures of the Carpathian region. ecognised scientists arrived from various European countries to study the out%2s I/ standing geological and geographical values in the heart of Europe. They turned their attention to the unique natural unit, the "living space" of the Carpathian Basin. Their books, in which they published the results of their journeys and observations, are now among the rarities of large libraries. Robert Townson (1762-1827), an English naturalist, was a pioneer of foreign travellers. His trip was initiated and sponsored abroad. His book, Travels in Hungary O 35 O FOREIGN RESEARCHERS OF THE CARPATHIAN BASIN