Muránska planina National Park ( sk, Národný park Muránska planina) is one of the youngest national parks in Slovakia. The core area measures 21,318 ha and the protective belt 21,698 ha. It includes 14 smaller protected territories. The headquarters are located in Revúca.

History

The area of the current Muránska Planina National Park was first protected in 1976 as a protected scenic area. This status was changed in October 1997 to that of a national park. The park was officially opened on 27 May 1998.

Location

Muránska Planina national park is situated on the border between Central and Eastern

Slovakia Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the s ...

far from the country´s borders between the Horehronie region in the north and the Gemer region in the south. The area stretches from the Klenovská Rimava valley in the west to the Javorinka saddle and the village of Červená Skala in the east. The national park is spread out over 3 districts in the

Banská Bystrica Region The Banská Bystrica Region ( sk, Banskobystrický kraj, ; hu, Besztercebányai kerület, ) is one of the eight regions of Slovakia. It is the largest region by area, and has a lower population density than any other region. The Banská Bystric ...

, namely the district of Brezno in the north,

Rimavská Sobota Rimavská Sobota (; hu, Rimaszombat, german: Großsteffelsdorf) is a town in southern Slovakia, in the Banská Bystrica Region, on the Rimava river. It has approximately 24,000 inhabitants. The town is a historical capital of Gömör és Kishont ...

in the south and

Revúca Revúca (; formerly ''Veľká Revúca'' in Slovak; german: Groß-Rauschenbach; hu, Nagyrőce) is a town in Banská Bystrica Region, Slovakia. Revúca is the seat of Revúca District. Etymology The name is of Slovak origin and was initially t ...

in the south-east. The cadastral territories of the town of

Tisovec Tisovec ( hu, Tiszolc, german: Theissholz or ''Theissholcz'', Latin: ''Taxovia'') is a town in central Slovakia. Its population is around 4,000. Location and landscape Tisovec is situated in the valley of the river Rimava, at the foot of th ...

and eight villages are located within the borders of the national park and its buffer zone. It protects the area of

Muránska planina Muránska planina (translated as Muráň Plateau or Muráň Plain) is a plateau-like region in central Slovakia, between Brezno, Červená Skala (part of Šumiac), Muráň and Tisovec. It lies in the Spiš-Gemer Karst, in the Slovenské rudohorie ...

(Muráň Plateau), which is geologically part of the

Slovenské rudohorie The Slovak Ore Mountains ( sk, Slovenské rudohorie , hu, Gömör–Szepesi-érchegység, german: Slowakisches Erzgebirge or Zips-Gemer-Erzgebirge) are an extensive mountain range within the Carpathian Mountains, located mostly in Slovakia's S ...

mountain range.

Geology

The geology of the Muránska planina dates back to the Mesozoic era. During this time a huge block of dolomite and limestone moved to the location of the current national park and formed a nappe. Because of this phenomenon the core of the national park still consists of a

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

and

dolomite Dolomite may refer to: *Dolomite (mineral), a carbonate mineral *Dolomite (rock), also known as dolostone, a sedimentary carbonate rock *Dolomite, Alabama, United States, an unincorporated community *Dolomite, California, United States, an unincor ...

plateau In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; ), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. Often one or more sides ha ...

with

karst Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathering-resistant ro ...

formations. Over the course of millions of years water carved deep furrows and valleys that gradually acquired a wild character. Steep rocky ravines are located mainly on the northwestern and southeastern edges of the area. In contrasts, the surface of the plateau itself is relatively flat and is located between 900 m and 1400 m. Because of the well-developed karst, the plateau is dotted with numerous abysses, caves, sinkholes, karrens and springs. The relief of the Muránska planina national park is very rugged and in many places rocky. The central territory is formed by the massif of the Muránska planina mountains that is part of the Spišsko-gemerský kras. The overall length of the karst landscape from the settlement of ''Červená Skala'' (part of

Šumiac Šumiac ( hu, Királyhegyalja) is a village and municipality in Brezno District, in the Banská Bystrica Region of central Slovakia. Šumiac was historically the western-most municipality with majority Rusyn ethnicity, along with Telgárt and Ver ...

) to the town of

is about 25 km. The lowest situated site in the national park is located close to the village of Muráň at an altitude of 400m AMSL. The highest point is Fabova hoľa at 1,439 m

AMSL Height above mean sea level is a measure of the vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) of a location in reference to a historic mean sea level taken as a vertical datum. In geodesy, it is formalized as ''orthometric heights''. The comb ...

, however, a higher peak, Stolica at 1,476 m is located in the buffer zone. Stolica is also the highest peak of the

Slovak Ore Mountains The Slovak Ore Mountains ( sk, Slovenské rudohorie , hu, Gömör–Szepesi-érchegység, german: Slowakisches Erzgebirge or Zips-Gemer-Erzgebirge) are an extensive mountain range within the Carpathian Mountains, located mostly in Slovakia's S ...

. There are more than 150 notable caves, which are inaccessible to the public.

Flora

Flora in the National Park is notable for its

biodiversity Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic (''genetic variability''), species (''species diversity''), and ecosystem (''ecosystem diversity'') l ...

and species richness and includes 35

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

and sub-endemic species, for example,
Daphne arbuscula
'. Forests cover about 90% of the area.

Tourism

Tourist attractions include 300 km of marked hiking

trails A trail, also known as a path or track, is an unpaved lane or small road usually passing through a natural area. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a path or footpath is the preferred term for a pedestrian or hiking trail. The ...

and two

educational trail An educational trail (or sometimes educational path), nature trail or nature walk is a specially developed hiking trail or footpath that runs through the countryside, along which there are marked stations or stops next to points of natural, techno ...

s. The best access to the park is through the surrounding villages and settlements, for example

Muráň Muráň (earlier ''Podmuráň'', german: Untermuran, hu, Murányalja) is a village and municipality in Revúca District in the Banská Bystrica Region of Slovakia. Geography The village is located around 9 km north of Revúca, in the Mur� ...

and

Závadka nad Hronom Závadka nad Hronom ( hu, Ágostonlak) is a village and municipality in Brezno District, in the Banská Bystrica Region of central Slovakia Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), ...

. On a rock in the middle of the range stands the Muráň castle.

Protected areas

The national park compromises 10 national nature reserves, 1 national natural monument, 1 natural monument, 7 nature preserves, 1 special protection area and 1 site of community importance: *National nature preserves: ** Cigánka ** Hrdzavá ** Javorníková ** Kášter ** Malá Stožka ** Poludnica ** Šarkanica ** Šiance ** Veľká Stožka ** Zlatnica *National natural monuments: ** Bobačka *Natural Monuments: ** Wesselényiho jaskyňa *Nature preserves: ** Čertova dolina ** Fabova hoľa ** Havrania dolina ** Mašianske skalky ** Mokrá poľana ** Nad Furmancom ** Zlatnianske skalky *Special protection areas: **Muránska planina - Stolica *Sites of community importance: **Muránska planina

References

External links

Muránska planina National Park
a
Slovakia.travel
{{DEFAULTSORT:Muranska Planina National Park National parks of Slovakia Protected areas established in 1997 Protected areas of the Western Carpathians Geography of Banská Bystrica Region Tourist attractions in Banská Bystrica Region