- Little Carpathians Protected Landscape Area
Infobox_protected_area
name = Little Carpathians Protected Landscape Area
"CHKO Malé Karpaty"
iucn_category = V
caption = Záruby, the highest point at 768 m AMSL
location = WestSlovakia ,Little Carpathians Mts.
lat_degrees = 48
lat_minutes = 25
lat_seconds =
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 17
long_minutes = 15
long_seconds =
long_direction = E
area = 167.71km² (249.5 mi²)
established = 5 May 1976
governing_body = "Správa CHKO Malé Karpaty" (CHKO Malé Karpaty administration) inTrnava Little Carpathians Protected Landscape Area ( _sk. Chránená krajinná oblasť Malé Karpaty) is one of the 14 protected landscape areas in
Slovakia . The Landscape Area is situated in theLittle Carpathians , part of theCarpathian Mountains , in West Slovakia. The southwestern-most area isDevínska Kobyla inBratislava , and the northeastern-most area is the Čachtice Carpathians at the town ofNové Mesto nad Váhom and the village ofČachtice in theTrenčín Region . Both areas are separated from the main mountain strip. The area protects 646.1km² (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 (1964), Sandberg Nature Reserve (1964),
Driny Cave Nature Monument (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 at Unit height|m|768|1, Vysoká at Unit height|m|754|1 and Vápenná at Unit height|m|752|1.Biology and ecology
Deciduous trees are dominant, with thebeech ,linden ,European Ash , andSycamore 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 ofbutterflies and 20species ofants . Notable species ofbirds are represented by theRock Thrush ,Northern Wheatear ,Black Stork ,Honey Buzzard ,Short-toed Eagle ,Eurasian Eagle-owl ,Long-eared Owl , andEuropean Nightjar . The Landscape Area is home to the largest population of theSaker Falcon 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 likeKoliba .There are many castles in the area, many of which are in ruins now. The notable examples are Biely Kameň Castle,
Červený Kameň Castle andSmolenice Castle .The Landscape Area includes an extensive network of
hiking trails and bicycle trails.Driny is the only cave open to public.ee also
*
Protected areas of Slovakia
*List of castles in Slovakia References
[http://www.sopsr.sk/index.php?page=posobnost&id=12 sopsr.sk] sk icon
External links
* [http://www.slovakia.travel/entitaview.aspx?l=2&ami=108035&smi=108035&llt=1&idp=2309 Little Carpathians PLA] at [http://www.slovakia.travel/intropage.aspx?l=2 Slovakia.travel]
* [http://www.spectacularslovakia.sk/ss2001/small_carpathians_ascii.html Little Carpathians] at [http://www.spectacularslovakia.sk Spectacular Slovakia]
* [http://www.mvc.sk/topic.php?lang=en&topic=mvc&id=mvc Little Carpathians Wine Route]
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