UNESCO/Toson-Khulstai Biosphere Reserve
Slovak Karst (Slovenský Kras)
General information
Situated adjacent to Aggtelek Biosphere Reserve in Hungary, Slovensky Kras in the south of Slovakia is a karst landscape comprising almost the complete range of the karst phenomena of temperate climates. A series of plateaus, ranging between 400 and 900 meters above sea level, are surrounded by steep slopes descending to adjacent basins, valleys and gorges. More than 700 caves are currently recognized in the 60,000 hectares karst area, which is shared with Hungary.
Detailed information
Key data
Year of nomination
1977
Country
Slovakia
Total population
45919
Area
Surface
74,480.00 ha
Total terresterial area
74,480.00 ha
Location
Latitiude: 48.5928 - Longitude: 20.6107
Ecological Characteristics
Situated adjacent to Aggtelek Biosphere Reserve in Hungary, Slovensky Kras in the south of Slovakia is a karstlandscape comprising almost the complete range of the karst phenomena of temperate climates.A series of plateaus, ranging between 400 and 900 meters above sea level, are surrounded by steep slopes descending to adjacent basins, valleys and gorges.More than 700 caves are currently recognized in the 60,000 hectares karst area, which is shared with Hungary. In 1995, ‘Caves of Aggtelek and Slovak Karst’ were designated as a World Heritage site.Carpathian oak-hornbeam forests characterized by Carpinus betulus, Quercus petraea; mixed oak forests dominated by Q. petraea, Carpinus betulus, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior etc.; xero-thermophilous oak forests with Cornus mas, Q. petraea, Q. cerris, Cerasus mahaleb; beech forests with Fagus sylvatica, Acer platanoides, A.pseudoplatanus and Tilia cordata; shrub layer with Cornusmas, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Rosa canina, Ligustrum vulgare, Cerasus mahaleb, Sorbus aria, S.torminalis etc.; limestone rock wallsand rock cracks with Asplenium trichomanes, A. viride, Moehringia muscosa etc.; grasslands; grass meadows; underground brooks and lakes, caves, caverns and chasms; fields with Adonis aestivalis, Anagallis foemina and Caucalisplaty carpos; orchards and vineyards.
Socio-Economics Characteristics
About 47,900 people live in the transition area of the biosphere reserve (1997).Settlements and related economic activities are concentrated in the basins and river valleys.Forests are mostly coppice stands, derived from repeatedly cut broad-leaved trees, and forest plantations. There are also grasslands and pastures as well as some agricultural areas.The region has an industrial-rural character with more people employed in agriculture than industry (exploitation and processing of raw materials, machineryand metal industry).Research in the area has a long history.While there have been studies on the stratigraphy, geomorphology and regional physical geography of the SlovakKarst over many decades, systematic environmental research began only with its designation as biosphere reserve.