Šťiavnické vrchy (Šťiavnické hills) - Slovakia

Extent: 856 km²

This is most extended volcanic mountain range of West Carpathian Mountains, situated in Central Slovakia in districts of Levice, Žarnovica, Žiar nad Hronom, Banská Štiavnica, Zvolen and Krupina. These hills are formed with volcanic eruptives with presence of silver ore. It is quite well populated, thanks to mining activity in past. This mountain range area belongs to Slovak Iron Ore Mountains.

Highest peak: Sitno (1009 m)

Surface: originally covered with oaks, beech-woods and hornbeam forests. So, they preserved in lower sites only, as a consequence of mining activity. In higher sites predominate pine-woods, sometimes with fir-woods and pines. In areas, where trees are missing, the surface is covered with grass copse, where there are to be found warm-loving and mountaneous sorts of plants and animals.

Climatic zone: moderately warm and rather cold

Relief is mostly hilly and montaneous. Preserved rests of lava formed rocky formations. This area has ideal conditions for tourist activity. Several nature reservations and specialities  are to be found here. The area was declared as Preserved Country in 1979.