Malé Karpaty (Small Carpathian Mountains) - Slovakia

Extent: 820 square kilometres.

This mountain range is located in west part of Slovakia and divide - similarly as fortification - Záhorská plainland from  Danube plainland. The complex belongs to Fatra-Tatra area, which forms a part of West Carpathian Mountains. It is divided into four next parts, such as: Devínské, Pezinské, Brezovské and Čachtické.

Highest peak: Záruby (768 m).

Surface: afforested, including beech-wood and oak forests.

Climatic area: rather warm, in higher localities moderately warm area.

The territory was declared as Preserved Countryside Area in 1976.

The third highest mountain in the Small Carpathians is Vapenna mountain (752 m). It is set in the Pezinske Carpathian mountains near the town of Solosnica. It is a hardly-to-miss object which dominates its surroundings. Mostly limestone massiv is of rather of oblonged shape. The ridge is mostly uncovered and made of rugged rocks or cliffs. These run on its right side. On the area of 3 333 100 m2, there is the National Nature Reservation of Rostun. It is of the highest level of protection.

You can get on the top of Vapenna via couple of tourist trails. Either from the town of Solosnice, or by trails going from the Small Carpathian mountains. On the top, there is a smallo observation tower. You can see in all directions from there. The vistas are amazing and unforgetable. It is also the main reason why the mountain is so popular and frequented by the tourists.

Text and photo: Radoslav Biskupič