Slovenský kras (Slovakian karst) - Slovakia

Extent: 498 km²

This mountain range is formed with limestones and dolomites and it is located in south part of Central Slovakia in districts of Rožňava and Košice. It belongs to Slovak Iron Ore area, forming a part of West Carpathian Mountains.

Highest peak: Štít (Shield) - 851 m

Surface: there are to be found here leafy wood oaks and hornbeam forests. The areas where the trees are missing, are formed with meadows, glades, bushes, arable lands and limestone rocks.

Climatic zone: warm and moderately warm.

It is relatively scarsely inhabitated area with protected fauna, flora and nature karst appearances on a surafce as well as in caves. This romantic countryside is interwoven with tourist trails and educational paths.

Slovakian Karst was declared, thanks to its vast karst territory, as Protected Country Area (in 1973), later, in 2002, as National Park.

Lokalities

Jasov cave

Locality type:
Caves

Place:
Jasov

Jasov cave is situated in south-east part of Slovakia, in Slovak Karst National Park, Košice region. Underground spaces went through separate development stages of Bodva-river activity. River breaking of Jasov rocks determined the direction and quantity of corridors. So, the surpass between entrance and exit reaches even 28 metres. In a cave, you mount 339 stages. Its length is totally 2811 metres, the section open for public, makes 720 meters. According to preserved old inscriptions and drawings, the discovery of the cave is dated to 12th century. The cave was open for public in 1846 for the first time, since 1926 it is equipped with electric lighting, and since 1935, other floor was open for public. At present, cave spaces are used mostly for visitors of Štos Spa. The problems of respiratory diseases are healed here (speleotherapy).

Decoration elements: stone formations in form of waterfalls, drums and quills, the occurence of sintre, stalagmites and stalactites is to be noted. In the cave, there were discovered 19 sorts of bats.