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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Small Carpathians

The Little Carpathians (also: Lesser Carpathians, Slovak: Malé Karpaty; German: Kleine Karpaten; Hungarian: Kis-Kárpátok) are a low mountain range, about 100 km long, and part of the Carpathian Mountains. The mountains are situated in Western Slovakia, covering the area from Bratislava to Nové Mesto nad Váhom, and northeastern Austria, where a very small part called Hundsheimer Berge (or Hainburger Berge) is located south of the Devín Gate. The Little Carpathians are bordered by the Záhorie Lowland in the west and the Danubian Lowland in the east.

In 1976, the Little Carpathians were declared a protected area under the name Little Carpathians Protected Landscape Area, covering 646.1 km (249.5 sq mi). The area is rich in floral and faunal diversity and contains numerous castles, most notably the Bratislava Castle, and natural caves. Driny is the only cave open to the public. The three highest mountains are Záruby at 768 m (2,520 ft), Vysoká at 754 m (2,474 ft), and Vápenná at 752 m (2,467 ft).

Description

Geomorphologically, the Little Carpathians belong to the Alps-Himalaya System, the Carpathian Mountains sub-system, the Western Carpathians province, and the Inner Western Carpathians sub-province.

The Little Carpathians are further divided into four parts, from south to north: the Devín Carpathians (Slovak: Devínske Karpaty), the Pezinok Carpathians (Slovak: Pezinské Karpaty), the Brezová Carpathians (Slovak: Brezovské Karpaty) and the Čachtice Carpathians (Slovak: Čachtické Karpaty).

Geomorphological division of the Little Carpathians
Mountain range Division Subdivision
Little Carpathians Devín Carpathians (Slovak: Devínske Karpaty) – in Bratislava Devínska Kobyla (Slovak: Devínska Kobyla)
Bratislava Foothills (Slovak: Bratislavské predhorie)
Lamač Gate (Slovak: Lamačská brána)
Devín Gate (Slovak: Devínska brána)
Pezinok Carpathians (Slovak: Pezinské Karpaty) – from Bratislava to Buková Homoľa Carpathians (Slovak: Homoľské Karpaty)
Kuchynská hornatina
Stupava Foothills (Slovak: Stupavské predhorie)
Biele hory
Smolenická vrchovina
Lošonská kotlina
Plavecké predhorie
Bukovská brázda
Brezová Carpathians (Slovak: Brezovské Karpaty) – from Buková to Prašník Dobrovodská kotlina
Čachtice Carpathians (Slovak: Čachtické Karpaty) – from Prašník to Nové Mesto nad Váhom Plešivec
Nedze

The mountains are densely forested (90% being broad-leaved trees), and the southeastern part contains extensive vineyards (e.g. Rača, Pezinok, and Modra). Several castles or castle ruins are situated in the Little Carpathians, for example Devín, Čachtice, Červený Kameň, and Smolenice castles.

Geologically, the mountain range is part of the Tatra-Fatra Belt of core mountains. There are several active faults which have produced earthquakes. Of them the most notable is the Dobra Voda fault (1906 and 1930 produced 8.5° and 7.5° EMS-98 or equal to = 5.7 and 5.0). This particular fault is closely monitored because of its proximity to the Bohunice Nuclear Power Plant, approximately 15 km away. The Little Carpathians are seismically one of the most active regions in Slovakia and the epicentres of many earthquakes with an approximate magnitude of 2.5 on the Richter magnitude scale are located here.

There are a total of eight karst areas in the Little Carpathians: the Devín Carpathians, Borinka (Pajštún), Cajlan, Kuchyňa-orešany, Plavecký, Smolenice, Dobrovodský, and Čachtice karsts. The most important karst forms include the caves Deravá, Tmavá skala, Driny, and Čachtická, and additional caves along the Borinský potok. Driny, a limestone cave, is the only cave open to the public. Major streams include Vydrica and Suchý jarok.

Highest peaks

Image Slovak name Height Location & Notes
Záruby 767.4 meters AMSL
Above the village Smolenice
Vysoká 754.3 meters AMSL
Outside of the main ridge of the Little Carpathians, above the village Kuchyňa, summit offers extensive views
Vápenná (Roštún) 752.2 meters AMSL
Features a 4-meter tall concrete observation obelisk built in 2003
Čertov kopec (vrch) 751.8 meters AMSL
Forested summit with no marked trails leading here
Veterlín 723.5 meters AMSL
Havranica 717.1 meters AMSL
Čelo 716.0 meters AMSL
Forested summit with no marked trails leading here
Veľká homoľa 709.2 meters AMSL
Since 2001, it has featured a 20-meter-tall observation tower on the summit
Čmeľok 709.0 meters AMSL
Features a military radar on the summit
Skalnatá 704.2 meters AMSL
Offers extensive views

History

Abandoned pyrite mine near Pernek

While being a relatively low mountain range, the Little Carpathians have long been considered a formidable mountain barrier, often attaining a height of 500 meters, as they are surrounded by various lowlands. In the past, various types of ore were mined in the Little Carpathians, including ores containing gold, silver, antimony, manganese, and pyrite.

During the Second World War, the Little Carpathians were the birthplace of the partisan group Janko Kráľ. Insurgency in the mountains lasted until their occupation by the Soviet Red Army in 1945.

Tourism

The Little Carpathians are a popular tourist destination in Western Slovakia. The mountains are used for hiking, cycling, tramping, backpacking, automobile and motorcycle tourism, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and other winter sports. The mountain range contains a dense network of trails, and the recreational infrastructure is relatively well developed, especially in the south. The Little Carpathians are a popular destination for the inhabitants of Bratislava and other larger cities in the region.

Since the Middle Ages, the area has been known for its wines and wine-making traditions. Well known centers of local wine-making include Svätý Jur, Modra, and Pezinok. The main tourist centers include the Slovak capital Bratislava, Pezinská Baba (halfway between Pezinok and Pernek), and Zochova chata (near Modra).

Images

See also

References

  1. ^ Mazúr, E., Lukniš, M. 1986, Geomorfologické členenie SSR a ČSSR. Časť Slovensko. Slovenská kartografia, Bratislava
  2. ^ Madarás J. et al., Mineralia Slovaca 4/2012
  3. ^ Moczo, P. (2011). Výsledky v seizmológii v r. 2009–2011 v SR. In Bratislava (Slovak Republic): Katedra astronómie, fyziky Zeme a meteorológie Fakulty fyziky, matematiky a informatiky Univerzity Komenského.: IX. Slovenská geofyzikálna konferencia. 22.6.2011