1. Nature
of Slovakia

2. Abiotic nature

3. Lakes, Rivers, tarns and mineral waters
Slovak rivers flow mainly to the Black and the Baltic Sea.
The longest river is Váh and the most important is Danube.
Lakes
Sunny Lakes, Golden sands and Duchonka are the best known natural lakes in Slovakia.
Tarns
They appear only in the High Tatras area.
Veľké Hincovo Tarn is the largest and the deepest natural tarn in Slovakia.
Mineral waters
Slovakia is very rich in mineral and thermal water springs.
They offer curative treatments of different diseases as well
as relax and wellness services – there are many spas.
(Turčianske Teplice, Bardejovské kúpele or Číž)
Waterfalls
Waterfalls in Slovakia are rare – they appear mainly in
Slovak Paradise.
Waterfalls in Slovak Paradise

4. Štrbské pleso

5. Caves
Slovakia has more than 4,000 caves and caverns but only 12 of them are opened to the public.
Caves in Slovakia are mainly livestone, but there are also 2 ice caves and one aragonite cave (from 3 aragonit caves opened in Europe).
Caves are used as the treatment of allergies and other respiratory disorders – speleotherapy.
The most interesting caves are Ochtinská Aragonite Cave, Dobšinská Ice Cave, Domica Cave, Gombasecká Cave.
Ochtinská Aragonite Cave
Dobšinská Ice Cave

6. Mountains
Slovakia is mountainous country – the distinguished mountains are High and Low Tatras, Great Fatra, Lesser Fatra, Slovak paradise and Poloniny.
The highest peak in Slovakia is Gerlachovský peak -2,655 m.
The only volcano in middle Europe – Poľana.
Gerlachovský peak
Poľana

7. National parks 1, High Tatras National Park
2, Low Tatras National Park
3, Slovak Paradise National Park
4, Greater Fatra National Park
5, Lesser Fatra National Park
6, Muráň Plain National Park
7, Slovak Karst National Park
8, Poloniny National Park
9, Pieniny National Park

8. Living nature

9. Fauna (Animals) Domestic animals: cats, dogs, cattle, chickens
quail
Fauna (Animals)
Domestic animals: cats, dogs, cattle, chickens
Wild animals:
Forest animals: bears, wolves, foxes, lynxes, hogs, rodents and insect, squirrels
Water animals: fish (carps, trouts, crayfish) frogs and turtles.
Flying animals: eagles, quails, falcons, storks
Dangerous animals: carnivores, infected insect, poisonous snake and animals infected with rabies
bear
lynx
hog
wolf

10. Flora (Plants, trees and other green things)
3124 species of vascular plants and even more species of grasses, mushrooms, mosses and lichens (which is more than for example in the six times bigger territory of Poland.
Endemic species (living only in bounded territories):
Pulsatilla slavica
Alpine aster
Lime tree is a symbol of Slavs.
Pulsatilla slavica
Alpine aster

11. Forests 40% of Slovakia are forests.
Only Sweden and Austria are woodier in Europe.
In the height above the sea level of 1,500 m is upper forest border.
Forest´s Degrees in Slovakia:
Oak (100 – 450m) – lowland
Beech (450 – 880m) (The majority of the forests in Slovakia are beech forests.)
Fir – beech (650 – 1,050m)
Spruce – fir – beech (850 – 1,300m)
Spruce (1,100 – 1,550m)
Dwarf pine (1,450 – 1,900m)
Special forests are flood forests near rivers.
Higher above the spruce forests on the little fertile soils grows only scrub, and there are also high mountain meadows.
Flood forests

12. Protected and endangered species
chamois
All of the endangered species are contained in the Red List.
769 is the total number of protected species living in the Slovak territory.
For example: Deroceras fatrense, Tatra chamois, marmot and Eurasian Great bustard (biggest flying bird living in the European territory), bison, hoofed animals and horse breeding.
55 species are endangered: The chamois, Andromeda polifolia, the Eastern Imperial Eagle
marmot
Andromeda polifolia
great bustard
Eastern Imperial Eagle

13. Natural UNESCO heritage
Slovakia has 7 sights inscribed in the World Heritage List and 2 of them are natural.
Caves in the Slovak Karst:
Dobšinská Ice Cave
Domica Cave
Gombasecká Cave
Jasovská Cave
Ochtinská Aragonite Cave
Primeval beech forests in Poloniny National Park and Vihorlat Mountains (Havešová, Stužica, Rožok and Kyjovský Forest)
Poloniny

14. Sources: Text: Pictures:
=1405
Pictures:
w=article&id=239:endangered-species- slovakia&catid=54:eco-calendar&Itemid=77

15. Ivana Monková
Tomáš Turlík
3.B