Little Carpathians Protected Landscape Area

A substantial part of the Little Carpathians is protected within the Little Carpathians Protected Landscape Area. The Little Carpathians Protected Landscape Area (PLA) was established on May 5, 1976, consists of 65,504 ha and its administration office resides in Modra. Its north-southern dimension amounts to100 km in length, while its west-eastern one is 16 km wide. The territory of Trnava District includes the following national nature reserves: Hlboča and Záruby, and nature reserves: Bolehlav, Buková, Čierna skala, Katarína, Klokoč, Lošonský háj, Skalné okno, and Slopy. The national nature monument Driny Cave and nature monuments: Devil's Glen, Light Rock and Karst Spring under the Bachárka Hill from other protected areas are also situated in this territory. The territory of Little Carpathians PLA comprises mostly large broadleaved forests, grasslands and forest clearings. Protected plant species can be represented, for instance, by an iris, pasqueflower and dianthuses, and a stork, butterflies and several species of beetles can be mentioned among protected animal species. The altitude of the Little Carpathians mountain range varies from 300 - 400 m on its south-eastern slopes in the surroundings of Buková and Dobrá Voda, and 400 - 500 m in the area of Horné Orešany. The highest altitudes are located in its central part. The highest peak of Little Carpathians, Záruby (767 m), lies on a mountain ridge between Smolenice and Buková. This part of Little Carpathians represents the most picturesque area dotted with lower hills protruding above levelled peak plateaus. Plenty of karst forms have been created on limestone and dolomite crags especially near Smolenice and surroundings of Dobrá Voda. From the underground karst phenomena, mainly the Driny Cave, the only cave of western Slovakia accessible to the public, is well known in the Little Carpathians PLA. Karst areas within this part of Little Carpathians are in forms of lowered areas, sink holes and karst pavements. Smolenice Karst represents a remarkable karst area located in the south-eastern part of mountain range. Extending within the area of 7 km2, it comprises a group of limestone ridges situated around the hill Driny (483 m). It is formed from dark grey limestones interlaced by lots of cracks enabling underground drainage of the territory. Grikes, which can be found on the plateaus of hills Driny and Molpír and on the mountainside of Cejtach, embody an above ground karst form. The valley Hlboča is of canyon-like character. The area of Dobrá Voda Karst spreading approximately within 6,000 ha is marvellous as well. Among karst structures located in this area the Dobrá Voda Valley, karst springs Blava, Mariáš and Výtok, sink holes, swallow holes, and sink hole pools can be listed. The karst springs are used also as drinking water sources.Flora of the Little Carpathians is rich in species. Thermophilic and drier oak forests grow on southern slopes of the lowest altitude, while various types of bushes, grass and herbs can be found in sunny places. Beech forest is located above the oak forest cover and also hornbeam woods mingle with them. At higher altitudes, mixed forests with maple, elm, ash, hornbeam, beech, and oak trees can be found. The foothills of Little Carpathians used to be covered by oak forests with maples and hazels. Thanks to position and warm climate in the south-eastern Slovakia also fauna of Little Carpathians is unique and quite rich in variety of species. Various species of beetles, stag, longicorn and ground beetles, butterflies, inachises, bolorias and others, and reptiles, lizards and colubrids, can be found within this area. Precious bird species such as hawks and eagles live here as well. Správa CHKO Malé Karpaty, Štúrova 115, 900 01 Modra Tel.: 033/647 40 02, 640 05 49 www.sopsr.sk

Little Carpathians Protected Landscape Area
 

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