Slovak Ore Mountains

Slovak Ore Mountains in Slovakia

Slovak Ore Mountains (Slovak: Slovenské rudohorie, Hungarian: Gömör–Szepesi-érchegység) is an extensive mountainous region of Slovakia's Spiš and Gemer region, and in small part in northern Hungary, within the Carpathians. It is the largest mountain range in Slovakia. In the geomorphological system, the Slovenské rudohorie belongs to the Inner Western Carpathians.

The mountains are bordered by Zvolen in the west, Košice in the east, the Hron River and the Hornád River in the north, and the Juhoslovenská kotlina and Košice Basin (Košická kotlina) in the south.

Subdivision

Geomorphologicaly Slovak Ore Mountains are grouped within the Inner Western Carpathians. The mountains do not have a central ridge - they consist of several independent sections, geomorphological regions:

• Vepor Mountains (Veporské vrchy)
• Spiš-Gemer Karst (Spišsko-gemerský kras)
• Stolické vrchy (literally Stolica Mountains)
• Revúcka vrchovina (Revúca Highlands)
• Volovské vrchy (Volovec Mountains)
• Čierna hora (Black Mountain)
• Rožňavská kotlina (Rožňava Basin)
• Slovak Karst (Slovenský kras) and Aggtelek Karst (Hungarian: Aggteleki-karszt; lies in northern Hungary)

Characteristics

Basic data:

• highest peak: Stolica, 1,476 m AMSL
• length: app. 140 km
• width: app. 40 km
• area: app. 4000 km²

Since this is a very extensive geomorphological unit, no general characterization is appropriate. The geomorphological structure is varied and has crystalline, Mesozoic and volcanic rocks.

Since time immemorial, especially in the early modern period, the mountains were, as the name suggests, heavily mined but are not any more.

Protected areas

Slovenské rudohorie contains the Muránska planina National Park, Slovak Karst National Park and Slovak Paradise National Park.