Little Carpathians Protected Landscape Area
Encyclopedia
Little Carpathians Protected Landscape Area is one of the 14 protected landscape areas in Slovakia
. The Landscape Area is situated in the Little Carpathians
, part of the Carpathian Mountains
, in West Slovakia. The southwestern-most area is Devínska Kobyla
in Bratislava
, and the northeastern-most area is the Čachtice Carpathians at the town of Nové Mesto nad Váhom
and the village of Čachtice
in the Trenčín Region
. Both areas are separated from the main mountain strip. The area protects 646.1 km² (249.5 mi²) of the mountains.
Before the Little Carpathians PLA was declared in 1976, there were 6 protected areas in the territory: Roštún National Nature Reserve (since 1953), Devínska Kobyla National Nature Reserve (1964), Čachtice Castle Hill National Nature Reserve
(1964), Sandberg Nature Reserve
(1964), Driny Cave Nature Monument
(1968), and Čachtická Cave Nature Monument (1972).
The three highest points are Záruby
at , Vysoká at and Vápenná at .
, linden
, European Ash
, and Sycamore Maple
being most widespread. The Little Carpathians PLA is the only place in Slovakia where some plants grow, for example, Ruscus hypoglossum
and Rhamnus saxatilis
. Insects include 700 species of butterflies and 20 species
of ants. Notable species of birds are represented by the Rock Thrush
, Northern Wheatear
, Black Stork
, Honey Buzzard
, Short-toed Eagle
, Eurasian Eagle-owl, Long-eared Owl
, and European Nightjar
. The Landscape Area is home to the largest population of the Saker Falcon
in Slovakia.
.
There are many castles in the area, many of which are in ruins now. The notable examples are Biely Kameň Castle, Červený Kameň Castle
and Smolenice Castle
.
The Landscape Area includes an extensive network of hiking trails and bicycle trails. Driny
is the only cave open to public.
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
. The Landscape Area is situated in the Little Carpathians
Little Carpathians
The Little Carpathians are a low, about 100 km long, mountain range, part of the Carpathian Mountains. The mountains are situated in Western Slovakia, covering the area from Bratislava to Nové Mesto nad Váhom, a very small part called Hundsheimer Berge is situated south of Devín Gate in...
, part of the Carpathian Mountains
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc roughly long across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the second-longest mountain range in Europe...
, in West Slovakia. The southwestern-most area is Devínska Kobyla
Devínska Kobyla
Devínska Kobyla is a mountain in the Little Carpathians, within the territory of Bratislava, Slovakia, between the boroughs of Devínska Nová Ves, Devín and Dúbravka. At an altitude of 514 m AMSL, it is the highest point of Bratislava. The area has been a national natural reserve since 1965...
in Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, and the northeastern-most area is the Čachtice Carpathians at the town of Nové Mesto nad Váhom
Nové Mesto nad Váhom
Nové Mesto nad Váhom is a town in the Trenčín Region of Slovakia.- Geography :District town located at the northern edge of the Danubian Hills at the foothills of the northern end of the White Carpathians, on the Váh river. Other mountains nearby are the White Carpathians and the Považský Inovec...
and the village of Čachtice
Cachtice
Čachtice is a village in Nové Mesto nad Váhom District in western Slovakia with a population of 3,630 .The village is situated between the Danubian Lowland and the Little Carpathians. It is best known for the ruins of the nearby Čachtice Castle, home of Elizabeth Báthory who is alleged to be the...
in the Trenčín Region
Trencín Region
The Trenčín Region is one of the eight Slovak administrative regions. It consists of 9 districts .-Geography:It is located in the north-western Slovakia, has an area of 4,502 km² and a population of 600,386 . The Danubian Lowland reaches the region to Nové Mesto nad Váhom and Partizánske areas...
. Both areas are separated from the main mountain strip. The area protects 646.1 km² (249.5 mi²) of the mountains.
History
The Little Carpathians Protected Landscape Area was established on 5 May 1976. The law that created the Landscape Area was amended on 30 March 2001.Before the Little Carpathians PLA was declared in 1976, there were 6 protected areas in the territory: Roštún National Nature Reserve (since 1953), Devínska Kobyla National Nature Reserve (1964), Čachtice Castle Hill National Nature Reserve
Cachtice Castle
The Čachtice Castle is a castle ruin in Slovakia next to the village of Čachtice. It stands on a hill featuring rare plants, and has been declared a national nature reserve for this reason...
(1964), Sandberg Nature Reserve
Devínska Nová Ves
Devínska Nová Ves ) is a borough of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Its western borders are formed by the Morava River, which also represents the national border between Slovakia and Austria....
(1964), Driny Cave Nature Monument
Driny
Driny is a limestone cave in West Slovakia in the Little Carpathians Mountains. It is located around 2 km southwest of the village of Smolenice.The cave's entrance altitude is 399 m....
(1968), and Čachtická Cave Nature Monument (1972).
Geography
The Little Carpathians are the borderline mountains of the Inner Western Carpathians.The three highest points are Záruby
Záruby
Záruby is the highest hill of the Little Carpathians. It is located at an altitude of 768 m, near the village of Smolenice....
at , Vysoká at and Vápenná at .
Biology and ecology
Deciduous trees are dominant, with the beechBeech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
, linden
Tilia
Tilia is a genus of about 30 species of trees native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The greatest species diversity is found in Asia, and the genus also occurs in Europe and eastern North America, but not western North America...
, European Ash
European Ash
Fraxinus excelsior , is a species of Fraxinus native to most of Europe with the exception of northern Scandinavia and southern Iberia, and also southwestern Asia from northern Turkey east to the Caucasus and Alborz mountains...
, and Sycamore Maple
Sycamore Maple
Acer pseudoplatanus, the sycamore maple, is a species of maple native to central Europe and southwestern Asia, from France east to Ukraine, and south in mountains to northern Spain, northern Turkey, and the Caucasus. It is not related to other trees called sycamore or plane tree in the Platanus...
being most widespread. The Little Carpathians PLA is the only place in Slovakia where some plants grow, for example, Ruscus hypoglossum
Ruscus
Ruscus is a genus of six species of flowering plants, native to western and southern Europe , Macaronesia, northwest Africa, and southwestern Asia east to the Caucasus. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae...
and Rhamnus saxatilis
Buckthorn
The Buckthorns are a genus of about 100 species of shrubs or small trees from 1-10 m tall , in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae...
. Insects include 700 species of butterflies and 20 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of ants. Notable species of birds are represented by the Rock Thrush
Rock thrush
The rock thrushes, Monticola, are a genus of chats, medium-sized mostly insectivorous or omnivorous songbirds. They were in former times placed in the thrush family Turdidae but actually belong in the closely related Muscicapidae...
, Northern Wheatear
Northern Wheatear
The Northern Wheatear or Wheatear is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae...
, Black Stork
Black Stork
The Black Stork Ciconia nigra is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It is a widespread, but rare, species that breeds in the warmer parts of Europe, predominantly in central and eastern regions. This is a shy and wary species, unlike the closely related White Stork. It is seen in...
, Honey Buzzard
Honey Buzzard
The European Honey Buzzard , is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles and harriers....
, Short-toed Eagle
Short-toed Eagle
The Short-toed Snake Eagle also known as Short-toed Eagle, is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers.-Range and habitat:...
, Eurasian Eagle-owl, Long-eared Owl
Long-eared Owl
The Long-eared Owl - Asio otus is a species of owl which breeds in Europe, Asia, and North America. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, family Strigidae, which contains most species of owl...
, and European Nightjar
European Nightjar
The European Nightjar, or just Nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus, is the only representative of the nightjar family of birds in most of Europe and temperate Asia.- Habitat and distribution :...
. The Landscape Area is home to the largest population of the Saker Falcon
Saker Falcon
The Saker Falcon is a very large falcon. This species breeds from eastern Europe eastwards across Asia to Manchuria. It is mainly migratory except in the southernmost parts of its range, wintering in Ethiopia, the Arabian peninsula, northern Pakistan and western China...
in Slovakia.
Tourism
The Little Carpathians PLA is the only large protected area in Slovakia with extensive vineyards, which are a part of the Little Carpathians Wine Route. The southwestern part contains the Bratislava Forest Park, which is popular with many visitors from Bratislava and includes localities like KolibaKoliba
Koliba is the name of a locality in Bratislava, Slovakia, which is situated on the foothills of the Little Carpathians. It administratively belongs to the Nové Mesto borough and is part of the Bratislava Forest Park....
.
There are many castles in the area, many of which are in ruins now. The notable examples are Biely Kameň Castle, Červený Kameň Castle
Cervený Kamen Castle
Červený Kameň Castle is a castle in southwestern Slovakia in the Little Carpathians near the village of Častá.-History:A stone castle was built in the 13th century as part of the chain of country frontier defense castles ranging from Bratislava to Žilina. This castle was completely rebuilt as a...
and Smolenice Castle
Smolenice Castle
The Smolenice Castle is a castle in the eastern slope of the Little Carpathians, near the town of Smolenice, Slovakia.-History:The Smolenice Castle was built up in the half of 15th century, but it was destroyed during the Rakoci's uprising and Napoleanic wars...
.
The Landscape Area includes an extensive network of hiking trails and bicycle trails. Driny
Driny
Driny is a limestone cave in West Slovakia in the Little Carpathians Mountains. It is located around 2 km southwest of the village of Smolenice.The cave's entrance altitude is 399 m....
is the only cave open to public.