Štiavnické vrchy Protected Landscape Area

Infobox_protected_area
name = Štiavnické vrchy Protected Landscape Area
"CHKO Štiavnické vrchy"
iucn_category = V

---

caption = Sitno Castle
location = Southern central Slovakia
lat_degrees = 48
lat_minutes = 32
lat_seconds =
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 18
long_minutes = 58
long_seconds =
long_direction = E
area = 776.30 km² (299.7 mi²)
established = 22 September 1979
governing_body = "Správa CHKO Štiavnické vrchy" (Štiavnické vrchy PLA administration) in Banská Štiavnica

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), [ [http://uzemia.enviroportal.sk/main/detail/cislo/221 Banskoštiavnická botanická záhrada at enviroportal.sk] ] Kamenné more near Vyhne (1923), [ [http://uzemia.enviroportal.sk/main/detail/cislo/297 Kamenné more at enviroportal.sk] ] and Sitno (1951). [ [http://uzemia.enviroportal.sk/main/detail/cislo/413 Sitno at enviroportal.sk] ]

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

* [http://www.slovakia.travel/entitaview.aspx?l=2&ami=108035&smi=108035&llt=1&idp=2321 Štiavnické vrchy PLA] at [http://www.slovakia.travel/intropage.aspx?l=2&ami=0&smi=0&p=99 Slovakia.travel]