Talk:Muráň Plain

I think the article should be renamed to "Muráň Plateau" because "Muránska planina" is actually a plateau and not a plain. If no one raise objections, I will do it in say two weeks. Please, feel free to comment on this idea.Tankred 00:12, 1 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

No, because plateau has other geological names in Slovak. Planina is defined as plošina (=more or less plain part of earth surface), which is a rovina (=with maximum elevation differences 20 m) and which has low density of plants cover. As you can see, this has nothing to do with the definition of a plateau (one big plain in high altitudes). Juro 16:06, 1 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I believe "Muranska planina" is in fact a plateau ("nahorna plosina" in Slovak} and not a plain ("rovina") from a geological and (especially) geomorphological point of view. A core of the Muranska Planina National Park consists of a limestone plateau - a relatively flat one, yet with higher altitude than the surrounding countryside. On the other hand, plains are characterized by their low altitude, rich soil, and they are generally alluvial origin. A typical plain is for example Podunajska rovina in Western Slovakia. That is why IMO the Slovak word "planina" in the national park's name should be translated as plateau ("nahorna plosina") and not plain ("rovina"). Muranska planina is also defined as a plateau at www.geologicacarpathica.sk, sbs.sav.sk, www.slovakspectator.sk, and some other websites (the first two of them are quite important because they are edited by the Slovak Academy of Sciences and the Carpathian-Balkan Geological Association).Tankred 23:38, 1 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

If you have a better word than plain, cite it and I will use it (or find a source saying that plateau does not mean NAHORNA plosina). Since all the geomorphological units have clear definitions and this one is not CALLED náhorná plošina, we cannot call it a plateau. The translations are all wrong (one can see it when one tries to translate the whole geom. system systematically), I know that because I have been involved in such translations recently. We cannot change the official name only because you think that it is similar to a plateau. Planina only means a certain (low) level of altitude difference and not a POSITION in high altitude (as far as I know). And even IF it was a plateau, the name does not say that... Juro 01:25, 3 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I found an authoritative source clearly explaining that the Slovak word planina really means plateau (nahorna plosina) and not plain (rovina). According to Encyklopedia Zeme (1985), Bratislava: Obzor, "planina = nahorna plosina – geomorf. forma plosinoveho razu vo vacsej nadmorskej vyske" and "nahorna plosina = vid planina". I moved this page to the correct name Muran Plateau. Tankred 21:29, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I have realised only now, what you have written here, but that is simply a mistake. I have dealt specifically with this topic some months ago and planina was definitely not "náhorná plošina", I remember that, because I also thought that planina is a náhorná plošina...A copy from the summary in case you oversee it: "I have explained to you already that "planina" is a technical term and does not mean "náhorná plošina", see e.g. UN list [[1]]" As you can see they use there the same translation for planina and rovina, which is in line with the definition that planina = rovina (=with maximum elevation differences 20 m) which has low density of plants cover. I can assure you that this definition is correct (nevertheless I will try to check that the next time I am in a library). Juro 04:17, 25 October 2006 (UTC) Juro 04:10, 25 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

It is difficult to dismiss Encyklopedia Zeme. I really doubt its authors could make such a mistake. The most plausible explanation is that the Slovak word "planina" has simply two different meanings: one of them is mentioned in the encyclopedia that i cited ("planina" meaning a plateau), another is mentioned on geodesy.gov.sk (plain). But in this particular context, from the geomorphological point of view, Muranska planina is definitely a plateau, not a plain. So, it should be translated as a plateau, not as a plain. Tankred 05:11, 25 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

No, this is more difficult then you think, there are tables containing meters and other characteristics which are assigned to peculiar names like rovina, plošina, planina, hornatina, vrchovina etc. and the definition for planina is as I have given it above. It is however of course possible that there are various definitions for this from various authors, I will try to check that, but in the definition I have given is simply the definition applied in the names in the current geomorphological system, I would not insist on that if it was not the case. Encyklopedia Zeme is an encyklop. for general geology, not for these specific geomorphological terminology. And most importantly: Note that there are bot náhorné plošiny and planiny (excluding the Serbian meaning) in the world, do not you find that weird if those two terms are supposed to be identical? Juro 22:28, 25 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]