Slovakia

Slovakia (Slovak Slovensko) is a mountainous country situated in Central Europe.  It has a total area of about 49,000 square kilometres.  It is bordered to the west by Austria and The Czech Republic, to the north by Poland, to the east by Ukraine, and to the south by Hungary.  For further details on the country, see the Wikipedia article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovakia.

Geographically the country is very roughly a flattened oval in shape, on a west to east axis.  Most of the country is dominated by the ranges of the Carpathian Mountains (Slovak Karpaty), with the only substantial areas of low-lying land in the south-west (part of the Danube Plain, near the capital Bratislava) and south-east of the country.  Apart from the Danube, which flows through the south-eastern part of the country, the principle rivers bisecting the Carpathians are the Váh (which flows south-westwards to join the Danube at Komárno) and the Hron (which likewise follows a south-western course, but further east than the Váh, joining the Danube near Štúrovo).

The principle ranges of the Slovak part of the Carpathians are, starting from the west: 

Northern Slovakia (on the northern side of the Váh and Poprad Valleys)

 o        The Little Carpathians (Male Karpaty).  This range of hills, stretching north-east from Bratislava, reaches its highest point on Zarúby (768m), which has a prominence of 447 metres.

o        The White Carpathians (Biele Karpaty).  This range stretches north-east, to the north of Little Carpathians, following the Czech frontier to near Púchov.  The highest point in the range is Vel'ká Javorina (970m), which has a prominence of 580 metres.

o        The Maple Mountains (Javorníky).  This range follows the Czech frontier eastwards from near Púchov to Čadka. The highest point in this range is Vel'ký Javornik (1072m), which has a prominence of 387 metres. 

o       The Lesser Fatra (Malá Fatra).  This range lies between Žilina and Martin on both sides of the Váh Valley, split by the Strečno Pass.  The northern section of the range is called Krivánska Malá Fatra.  Its highest peak is Vel'ký Kriváň (1709m), which has a prominence of 958 metres.  The southern section of the range is called Lúčanská Fatra.  Its highest peak is Vel'ká lúka (1476m), which has a prominence of 897 metres.

o       Oravské Beskydy.  This is the highest area of the Beskydy Range, which stretches east into southern Poland.  The highest and most prominent mountain in the whole range is Babia hora (1725m), which has a prominence of 1075 metres.  The summit is situated on the Slovak/Polish frontier.

o       The Tatra (Tatry).  This is the highest part of the Carpathians, and is divided into three ranges, distinct in geological formation.  The Western Tatra (Západné Tatry) are mainly composed of limestone and metamorphic rocks (schists). The highest peak is Bystrá (2248m), which has a prominence of 562 metres.  The High Tatra (Vysoké Tatry) are composed of volcanic rocks.  The highest peak is Gerlachovský štít (2655m), which has a prominence of 2355 metres.  The White Tatra (Belianske Tatry) are composed of limestone.  The highest peak is Havran (2152m), which has a prominence of 402 metres.

Central Slovakia (between the Váh and Hron Valleys)

o       Považský Inovec.  A range of hills south of Trenčín.  The highest summit in the range is Inovec (1042m), with a prominence of 692 metres.

o       Tribec.  A range of hills south-east of the Inovec range.  The highest summit is Vel'ký Tribeč (830m), with a prominence of 369 metres.

o       Vtačnik.  A range of high hills south of Prievidza, and north-east of the Tribec.  The highest peak is Vtáčnik (1346m), with a prominence of 736 metres.  

o       The Strážov Mountains (Strážovské vrchy).  A broad and complex range of high hills east of Trenčín.  The highest and most prominent summit is Stražov (1213m), which has a prominence of 483 metres.

o       The Lesser Fatra (Malá Fatra).  See above.

o       The Greater Fatra (Vel'ká Fatra).  A broad range of lofty hills south-east of Martin.  The highest and most prominent peak in the range is Ostredok (1592m), which has a prominence of 672m.

o       The Kremnica Mountains (Kremnické vrchy). A range of high hills located west of Banská Bystrica.  The highest and most prominent summit in the massif is Flochová (1317m), which has a prominence of 427 metres.

o       The Low Tatra (Nízke Tatry).  A wide range of bald granite mountains, stretching between Banská Bystrica in the west and Poprad in the east.  This is the second highest range in the country, after the Tatra.  The highest and most prominent peak in the range is Ďumbier (2043m), which has a prominence of 1143 metres.

Southern Slovakia (south of the River Hron)

o       Štiavnica Mountains (Štiavnické vrchy).  Situated south-west of Zvolen, this is a range formed from the collapsed caldera of a volcano.  The highest peak in the range is Sitno (1009m), which has a prominence of 579 metres.

o       The Jávori Mountains (Javorie).  A small range situated south-east of Zvolen.  The highest and most prominent summit is Javorie (1044m), which has a prominence of 614 metres.

o       Pol'ana  A range of high hills which are the remains of an extinct stratovolcano.  They are situated south-east of Banská Bystrica.  The highest summit in the range is Pol'ana (1458m), which has a prominence of 732 metres.

o       The Vepor Mountains (Veporské vrchy).  This range is situated south of Brezno and is part of the Slovak Ore Mountains (Slovenské rudohorie).  Its highest and most prominent summit is Klenovský vepor (1338m), which has a prominence of 448 metres.

o       Fabova hol’a.  Also part of the Slovak Ore Mountains, this range lies east of Brezno.  Its highest and most prominent summit is Fabova hol'a (1439m), which has a prominence of 491 metres.

o       Muránska Planina.  Another part of the Slovak Ore Mountains, situated north-west of Revuca.  The highest and most prominent summit is Kl'ak (1410m), which has a prominence of 401 metres.

o       The Stolické Mountains (Stolické vrchy).  The highest part of the Slovak Ore Mountains, situated north-east of Revuca.  The highest peak in the range is Stolica (1476m), which has a prominence of 482 metres.  The most prominent summit is Salašiská (1132m), with a prominence of 553 metres.

o       Volovské vrchy. The most eastern part of the Slovak Ore Mountains, situated south-west of Prešov.  The highest and most prominent summit in the range is Zlatý stôl (1322m), with a prominence of 472 metres.

o       The Slovak Karst (Slovenský Kras).  A limestone plateau on the Hungarian border, south-west of Košice.  The highest and most prominent summit is Štít (851m), with a prominence of 441 metres.

Eastern Slovakia (east of the River Svinka)

 o       Čergov.  A range of hills located north of Sabinov, stretching on a north-west to south-east orientation.  The highest summit is  Minčol Čergovsky (1157m), which has a prominence of 567 metres.

o       Slanské vrchy.  A range of hills east of Košice, mainly on a north to south orientation.  The highest summit is Šimonka (1092m), which has a prominence of 762 metres.

o       The Low Beskydy (Nízke Beskydy). This is the far eastern end of the long Beskydy range, crossing the border from Poland.  The highest summit in the Slovak part of the range is Busov (1002m), which has a prominence of 372 metres.

o       The Bukovec Mountains (Bukovské vrchy).  A range of mountains stretching over the Polish and Ukrainian borders, the highest peaks being in Poland and The Ukraine.  The most prominent peak in the Slovak part of the range is Stinská (1090m), which has a prominence of 480 metres.

A more detailed description, by Piotr Mielus, of all the ranges of mountains and hills in Slovakia can be found on the www.peaklist.org website here.

The highest, and most prominent mountain in the country is Gerlachovský štít (2655m) in the High Tatra.  This is Slovakia’s only ‘Ultra’ peak.

There are thirty-four mountains in Slovakia of at least 2000 metres in height and at least 150 metres of prominence.

There are sixteen mountains and hills in Slovakia with a prominence of at least 600 metres.