- Štiavnica Mountains
The Štiavnica Mountains (also Štiavnické Mountains; _sk. Štiavnické vrchy) are a volcanic
mountain range southern centralSlovakia . They are part of InnerWestern Carpathians and theSlovenské stredohorie Mountains. The area is protected byŠtiavnica Mountains Protected Landscape Area .They are bordered by the
Kremnica Mountains ("Kremnické vrchy") in the north, Pliešovce and Krupina basins ("Krupinská kotlina") in the east,Danubian Hills ("Podunajská pahorkatina") in the south andPohronský Inovec ,Vtáčnik andŽiar Basin ("Žiarska kotlina") in the west. The highest point isSitno (1,009 m).Štiavnica Mountains are an immense
caldera created by the collapse of an ancient volcano. Due to their volcanic origin, they aremineral -rich, with around 140 kinds of minerals. In the past,silver mining flourished in the area around the town ofBanská Štiavnica .There are 24 lakes called
tajchy in Štiavnica Mountains. Although they are now integrated in their natural environment, they were originally built in the 18th century as water reservoirs serving the mining industry.External links
* [http://www.slovakia.travel/entitaview.aspx?l=2&ami=108035&smi=108035&llt=1&idp=2321 Štiavnica Mountains Protected Landscape Area] at [http://www.slovakia.travel/intropage.aspx?l=2 Slovakia.travel]
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