Geopark Banska Stiavnica travel destination
During the volcanic activity on the territory of Central
Slovakia in the Tertiary period was established larger number of volcanoes and a stratovolcanoes, of which the most massive is
Stiavnicky stratovolcano.
Stiavnicky stratovolcano probably reached a height of about 4000 m and with its size it is the biggest volcano in the whole Carpathian region (region of
Slovakia through Ukraine to Romania).
Geological history and the subsequent alteration of the country due to the mining activity makes the area of
Banska Stiavnica region a unique one not only in
Slovakia, but also in the world.
Given the universality of the values of this area,
Banska Stiavnica town and technical monuments in its surroundings were registered in the list of
UNESCO cultural heritage in 1993 and in the networks of
Slovakia geoparks as
geopark Banska Stiavnica.
Geopark Banska Bystrica travel destination
The region of
Banska Bystrica is very interesting because of multiple geological structure that is the cause of diversified relief in this part of
Slovakia also because of raw materials resources, especially ores.
Unfortunately, it is this ore potential that can be declared a historical one nowadays but in the past ore mining was the main factor affecting the life in this region. Mining of copper ores in the area of
geopark Banska Bystrica -
Spania Dolina,
Stare Hory and
Lubietova was world-famous.
Before the discovery of America this region was noted for the largest copper deposit in the then known world.
The towns of
Banska Bystrica and
Kremnica were the centres of entrepreneurial families of Thurzo and Fugger, who were mining precious metals (gold, silver and copper) in wide surroundings of these towns and exporting them in the whole world.
Many monuments connected with mining can be still found in the above-mentioned localities. They include buildings of shafts and smelters, knocking towers and adit mouths. Of great importance is also the ingenious water system, which is about 40 km long.
Geopark Novohrad - Nograd travel destination
Geopark Novohrad - Nograd area includes 28 municipalities on the
Slovak side (southern districts of
Rimavska Sobota,
Lucenec and
Velky Krtis) and 63 municipalities on the Hungarian side (the northern part of the
Novohrad county).
On its territory is located
Cerova highlands protected area and TK Karancs Medves protected region.
Both protected areas have been declared in 1990 primarily for the purpose of protection, preservation and educational-scientific use of the youngest volcanic structures in both countries.
In the
Geopark Novohrad - Nograd are preserved several geological and geomorphological attractions that also provide remarkable image of the country.
