Štiavnické vrchy Protected Landscape Area (Slovak: Chránená krajinná oblasť Štiavnické vrchy) is one of the 14 protected landscape areas in Slovakia. It is situated in the Banská Štiavnica, Zvolen, Žiar nad Hronom, Žarnovica, Levice and Krupina districts.

History

The park was created on 22 September 1979. Protected areas declared before include Banskoštiavnická botanická záhrada (Banská Štiavnica Botanical Garden) (1958), Kamenné more near Vyhne (1923), and Sitno (1951).

Geography, geology and biology

The PLA's territory is set in the Štiavnické vrchy range, which is a range of volcanic origin and is the biggest one in Slovakia. Beech, oak and fir trees grow in the area. The park doesn't only protect the natural elements but also the monuments associated with historic and mining activities. Artificial water reservoirs called tajchy have been built in the 17th and 18th centuries to provide energy for the mines in Banská Štiavnica and at their height, there were 60 of them. Nowadays, 24 survived to the present-day and are used for recreation. Along with the town, they are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites List.

References

External links

• Štiavnické vrchy PLA at Slovakia.travel