Dobšinska Ice Cave

It is one of most  popular caves in Europe . It was discovered in 1870, and just in 1882 it was open for public. The electric lightening was here used as the first in world. The cave was created by falling in a space, which was cave-continuation. It was caused  by cooling, 145000 m3 of ice was created (7000-8000 years ago). The cave is 1232 m long. Open time: each day, except Mondays. Entrance fee: adults SKK 180,- students SKK 160,-, children (6-15 years of age) SKK 90,-.

Kláštorská  Abyss

This abyss was created by a brook sourcing near to Kláštorisko and mounting directly into Hornád river. This place was known in past, for public it was open here since 1960. Anyway, first step for abyss - access was made with building of rope-tree-bridge at Kláštorská abyss, within a range of ?Prielom Hornádu? (Hornád Gap) access stage. Waterfalls´ order at mountain-abyss upstairs: Discoverers´ Waterfall, Anton Straka Waterfall, (it is an author of tourist guide of East Slovakia of 1921, describing also Slovak Paradise), Rainbow Waterfall, Gustav Nedobrý Cascades (it is populat tourist clerk), Small Waterfall, Carthusian Monk Waterfall, Machový Waterfall.

Access: on foot from communities of Hrabušice, Letanovec, Spišské Tomášovce, Smižany or Spišská Nová Ves.

Environs: Kláštorisko, Letanovský Mill, Podlesok, Prielom Hornádu and Tomášovský view.

Prielom Hornádu (Hornád Gap)

Hornád Gap is approximately 16 kms long section of upper part of Hornád river (from mouth of Velká Bielá Voda to Smižany). Hornád river created here canyon-valley, the banks of which fall from lateral ridges and peaks with more than 300 m of height difference. Thanks its tourist history, Hornád Gap has its special position among natrue values of Slovak Paradise. Hornád-predecessor (at the end of younger Tertiary formation) flew along plain bottom of today´s Hornád Basin about approx. 150 m higher. Later, the area of Slovak Paradise, began to raise, whereas the area of Hornád Basin started to sunk. Hornád river cut into layer of its flow, so it was created not only this bottom, but also its following tributaries (Lesnica, Velká Biela Voda, Biely potok), including smaller brooks and cascades, trickeling down from slopes of Glac plain. First crossing of Hornád Gap along its frozen level was effected in February 1996. On the contrary, in July 1906 descended B. Hajtsch and L. Hajtsch on primitive raft, Hornád river from Hrabušice (Hornád Neck) down to Smižany (Hornád mouth at Smižanská Maša). Hornád Gap was not passable along its whole length. Even in 1960, there was started the construction of rope-bridge near to Kláštorisko Abyss, and, consequently in 1974, there was terminated the stage construction of ?Mountain Service Path?. Along this path, you find 7 metal bridges and foot-bridges, 320 m of chains, 140 grades and approx. 70 m of wooden-bridges.

Access: on foot from communities of Spišská Nová Ves, Smižany, Spišské Tomášovce, Letanovce, Hrabušice and Dedinky.

Environs: Čingov, Tomášovský view, Kláštorská abyss, Letanovský Mill, Podlesok, Kláštorisko and Biely potok Valley (White Brook Valley).

Kysel

This abyss is situated at the eastern edge of Glac plain, between Pirc and Čertova siho´t ranges. It is approx. 1,5 kms long , its declivity is 180 m approx. At cross-roads in Kysel, it is dividing into Velký (Great), Malý (Small) and Vyšný (High ) Kysel. From tourist point of view, it is interesting the story abour abyss discovery. Despite the fact that Kysel was situated quite near to former tourist centre - town of Spišská Nová Ves - it tool a lot of years when the pioneers reached complete passage. On 27th June 1900, there was effected the first dicovery-tour but the whole abyss to go throw was succeeded to Kazimir Kozlovsky and his friends on 25th August 1907 only. In 1925, the workers of railway-depot of Spišská Nová Ves, placed in abyss first metal bridges and ladders. In 1975, members of Mountain Service made accessible the section at Great Waterfall (this section was not passable till that time). Within 16th and 17th July 1976, there broke out a big fire at abyss-mouth of Biely potok (White Brook), which consequently hit left part of Kysel bank.  (Pirco slope). The fire hit more than 30 ha of forest. However, now, the passage through abyss is forbidden (till revocation), owing to exceptional danger of stones and burned trees fall. The ladders were removed - from security reasons - and a substitutional route is accessible now, leading through non-damaged section, Small and Great Kysel.

Waterfalls: (in its rank of walking): Kysel (section non-accessible): Barricade, Chapel, Abyss, Temnice Waterfall, Big Watrerfall. Kysel (section accessible): Karoliny Waterfall. Small Kysel: Small Waterfall, Machový Waterfall. Great Kysel: Pawlas waterfall, Nature Protectors´ Waterfall, Barriere Waterfall.

Access: to Kysel valley there is allowed an access on marked routes only - from Spišská Nová Ves and Dedinky.

Environs: Kláštorisko, Čingov, Hornád Gap, White Brook Valley, Tomášovský view, Eagle´s Valley and Geravy.

Tomášovský View

Rock gallery on southern slope of Ludmanky, with a view to Hornád Gap, White Brook Valley, Čertova siho´t , as on High Tatra. Under rocky terrace, near to tourist path, you find a cave ?Michael´s Hole?. The wall of Tomášovský View was conquested on 8th October 1938 by A. Brnčal, A. Huba and E.Leschinsky for the first time. Tomášovský View is a standard place of mountneering´s training and rock-climbing competitions.

Access: on foot from communities of Spišské Tomášovce, Smižany or Spišská Nová Ves.

Environs: Čingov, Hornád Gap, Letanovský Mill, Kláštorská Abyss, Kláštorisko and White Brook Valley.

Biely potok (White Brook)

White Brook is right-part tributary of Hornád-river. Its source is placed in an altitude of 900 m approx., on northern slopes of Geravy, bordered with Holý kameń (Plain Stone), Červená skala (Red Rock) and Suchý vrch (Dry Hill) from northern part. On its upper flow, (its name is Tomášovská Belá), is situated river basin Klauzy. Its waters kept here, served for wood ?descent to Smižany, in past. The brooks, mounting to White Brook, form abysses Kysel and Eagle´s Valley. In Trias limestones, through which flows White brook, especially on its middle and lower flow, there were created shorter canyon sections. On left-part slopes, in eastern rocky slopes of Glac plain steeps, you find spaces of Bear Cave and Golden Holes. An essential part of White Brook Valley, forms a part of Kysel State Nature Reservation.

Access: on foot to White Brook Valley only on marked routes from communities of Spišská Nová Ves and Dedinky.

Environs: Čingov, Hornád Gap, Tomášovský View, Kláštorisko, Ksel, Eagle´s Valley, Geravy.

Suchá Belá

It is one of most romantique abyssses of Slovak paradise. The water flowing through, springs on northern edge of Glac plain. Its flow divides a massif of Ptačí hrb (Birds´ Hump) and Rumanová. Its mouth to Velká Bielá voda is direct in holiday centre of Podlesok. History of tourist discovery of Suchá Belá  begun in 1900, when a group of M. Roth reached Misovy (Bowl Waterfalls). In 1908, they marked and arranged tourist trail. In March 1910, the group of A. Mervay crossed the abyss in winter for the first time. Anyway, completely was the abyss opened for public (including Bowl Waterfalls) with care of Mountain Service, in 1957. Waterfalls  in row of walks: Bowl Waterfalls, Abyss of Bowl Waterfalls, Abyss, Window Waterfall, Bed-Waterfall, Lateral Waterfall, Cascade.

Access: on foot from communities of Hrabušice and Betlanovce.

Environs: Podlesok, Piecky, Velký Sokol (Great Eagle), Malý kysel (Small Kysel), Glac, Kláštorisko.

Text: Jan Chaloupka

info and photo: www.slovenskyraj.sk

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