Editing Slovakia (section)

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Slovakia}}
{{See also|Geomorphological division of Slovakia}}
{{Wide image|High Tatras Panorama.jpg|1000px|Panorama of the [[High Tatras]]}}

Slovakia lies between latitudes [[47th parallel north|47°]] and [[50th parallel north|50° N]], and longitudes [[16th meridian east|16°]] and [[23rd meridian east|23° E]]. The Slovak landscape is noted primarily for its mountainous nature, with the [[Carpathian Mountains]] extending across most of the northern half of the country. Among these [[mountain range]]s are the high peaks of the [[Fatra-Tatra Area]] (including [[Tatra Mountains]], [[Veľká Fatra|Greater Fatra]] and [[Lesser Fatra]]), [[Slovak Ore Mountains]], [[Slovak Central Mountains]] or [[Beskids]]. The largest lowland is the fertile [[Danubian Lowland]] in the southwest, followed by the [[Eastern Slovak Lowland]] in the southeast.<ref name=cia>{{cite web |title= Slovakia |work= [[The World Factbook]] |publisher= [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] |year= 2007 |url= https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/slovakia/ |access-date= 26 April 2008 |archive-date= 19 March 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210319021658/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/slovakia |url-status= live }}</ref> Forests cover 41% of Slovak land surface.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.etrend.sk/trend-archiv/rok-/cislo-J%C3%BAn/az-dve-paetiny-uzemia-slovenska-pokryvaju-lesy.html|title=Až dve pätiny územia Slovenska pokrývajú lesy|publisher=etrend.sk|access-date=29 August 2017|archive-date=29 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829040513/https://www.etrend.sk/trend-archiv/rok-/cislo-J%C3%BAn/az-dve-paetiny-uzemia-slovenska-pokryvaju-lesy.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Tatra mountains ===
{{Main|Tatra Mountains}}
[[File:Slovakia topo.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|A [[topography|topographical]] map of Slovakia]]

The Tatra Mountains, with 29 peaks higher than {{convert|2500|m|0|abbr=off}} [[Sea level#AMSL|AMSL]], are the highest mountain range in the Carpathian Mountains. The Tatras occupy an area of {{cvt|750|km2|}}, of which the greater part {{cvt|600|km2|}} lies in Slovakia. They are divided into several parts.

To the north, close to the Polish border, are the [[High Tatras]] which are a popular [[hiking]] and [[skiing]] destination and home to many scenic lakes and valleys as well as the highest point in Slovakia, the [[Gerlachovský štít]] at {{convert|2655|m|0}} and the country's highly symbolic mountain [[Kriváň (peak)|Kriváň]]. To the west are the [[Western Tatras]] with their highest peak of [[Bystrá (mountain)|Bystrá]] at {{convert|2248|m|0}} and to the east are the [[Belianske Tatras]], smallest by area.

Separated from the Tatras proper by the valley of the [[Váh]] river are the [[Low Tatras]], with their highest peak of [[Ďumbier]] at {{convert|2043|m|0}}.

The Tatra mountain range is represented as one of the three hills on the [[coat of arms of Slovakia]].

=== National parks ===
{{Main|List of national parks of Slovakia}}
[[File:Palcmanská Maša.JPG|thumb|right|[[Slovak Paradise National Park]]]]
There are nine national parks in Slovakia, covering 6.5% of the Slovak land surface. These parks are: [[Tatra National Park, Slovakia|Tatra National Park]], [[Low Tatras National Park]], [[Veľká Fatra National Park]], [[Slovak Karst National Park]], [[Poloniny National Park]], [[Malá Fatra National Park]], [[Muránska planina National Park]], [[Slovak Paradise National Park]] and [[Pieniny National Park (Slovakia)|Pieniny National Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lamnia.sk/maco/turistika/np/index.php|title=Národné parky na Slovensku|publisher=lamnia.sk|access-date=26 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010135408/http://www.lamnia.sk/maco/turistika/np/index.php|archive-date=10 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Caves ===
{{Main|List of caves in Slovakia}}
[[File:Domica Cave 20.jpg|thumb|right|[[Domica Cave]]]]

Slovakia has hundreds of caves and caverns under its mountains, of which 30 are open to the public.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ssj.sk/sk/verejnosti-volne-pristupne-jaskyne|title=Verejnosti voľne prístupné jaskyne|publisher=ssj.sk|access-date=19 August 2017|archive-date=2 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602014817/https://www.ssj.sk/sk/verejnosti-volne-pristupne-jaskyne|url-status=live}}</ref> Most of the caves have [[stalagmite]]s rising from the ground and [[stalactite]]s hanging from above. 

There are currently five Slovak caves under [[UNESCO]]'s World Heritage Site status: [[Dobšiná Ice Cave]], [[Domica]], [[Gombasek Cave]], [[Jasovská Cave]] and [[Ochtinská Aragonite Cave]]. Other caves open to the public include [[Belianska Cave]], [[Demänovská Cave of Liberty]], [[Demänovská Ice Cave]] or [[Bystrianska Cave]].

=== Rivers ===
{{Main|List of rivers of Slovakia}}
[[File:Widok z Trzech Koron w Pieninach, 20231014 1446 2508.jpg|thumb|right|[[Dunajec|Dunajec river]]]]

Most of the rivers arise in the Slovak mountains. Some only pass through Slovakia, while others make a natural border with surrounding countries (more than {{convert|620|km|mi|disp=sqbr}}). For example, the [[Dunajec]] ({{convert|17|km|disp=sqbr}}) to the north, the [[Danube River|Danube]] ({{convert|172|km|disp=sqbr}}) to the south or the [[Morava (river)|Morava]] ({{convert|119|km|disp=sqbr}}) to the West. The total length of the rivers on Slovak territory is {{convert|49774|km}}.

The longest river in Slovakia is the [[Váh]] ({{convert|403|km|disp=sqbr}}), the shortest is the Čierna voda. Other important and large rivers are the [[Myjava (river)|Myjava]], the [[Nitra (river)|Nitra]] ({{convert|197|km|disp=sqbr}}), the [[Orava (river)|Orava]], the [[Hron]] ({{convert|298|km|disp=sqbr}}), the [[Hornád]] ({{convert|193|km|disp=sqbr}}), the [[Slaná river|Slaná]] ({{convert|110|km|disp=sqbr}}), the [[Ipeľ]] ({{convert|232|km|disp=sqbr}}, forming the border with Hungary), the [[Bodrog]], the [[Laborec]], the [[Latorica]] and the [[Ondava]].

The biggest volume of discharge in Slovak rivers is during [[Spring (season)|spring]], when the snow melts from the mountains. The only exception is the Danube, whose discharge is the greatest during summer when the snow melts in the [[Alps]]. The Danube is the largest river that flows through Slovakia.<ref>{{cite web |author=Nie ste prihlásený. |url=http://www.slovakregion.sk/vodstvo-jazera-rieky-rybniky-slovenska |title=Vodstvo – Jazerá – rieky – rybníky Slovenska |publisher=Slovakregion.sk |access-date=10 September 2013 |archive-date=25 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225205204/https://slovakregion.sk/vodstvo-jazera-rieky-rybniky-slovenska |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Climate ===
{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=300
| align = left
| image1 = 1. máj Hlavná ulica Prešov 23 Slovakia 38.jpg
| image2 = CulHer14Slovakia328.JPG
| image3 = DanielovDomVysokéTatry15Slovakia31.JPG
| image4 = Banská Štiavnica im Herbst.JPG
| footer = Four seasons in Slovakia: spring in [[Prešov]], summer in [[Spišské Podhradie]], autumn in [[High Tatras]], winter in [[Banská Štiavnica]] (the town is a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]])
}}

The Slovak climate lies between the temperate and [[continental climate]] zones with relatively warm [[summer]]s and cold, cloudy and humid [[winter]]s. Temperature extremes are between {{convert|-41|and|40.3|C}} although temperatures below {{convert|-30|C}} are rare. The weather differs from the mountainous north to the plains in the south.

The warmest region is [[Bratislava]] and Southern Slovakia where the temperatures may reach {{convert|30|C}} in summer, occasionally to {{convert|39|C}} in [[Hurbanovo]]. During night, the temperatures drop to {{convert|20|C}}. The daily temperatures in winter average in the range of {{convert|-5|C}} to {{convert|10|C}}. During night it may be freezing, but usually not below {{convert|-10|C}}.

In Slovakia, there are four [[season]]s, each season ([[Spring (season)|spring]], summer, [[autumn]] and [[winter]]) lasts three months. The dry continental air brings in the summer heat and winter frosts. In contrast, oceanic air brings rainfalls and reduces summer temperatures. In the lowlands and valleys, there is often fog, especially in winter.

Spring starts with 21 March and is characterised by colder weather with an average daily temperature of {{convert|9|C}} in the first weeks and about {{convert|14|C}} in May and {{convert|17|C}} in June. In Slovakia, the weather and climate in the spring are very unstable.

Summer starts on 22 June and is usually characterised by hot weather with daily temperatures exceeding {{convert|30|C}}. July is the warmest month with temperatures up to about {{convert|37|to|40|C}}, especially in regions of southern Slovakia – in the urban area of Komárno, Hurbanovo or Štúrovo. Showers or thunderstorms may occur because of the summer monsoon called Medardova kvapka (Medard drop – 40 days of rain). Summer in Northern Slovakia is usually mild with temperatures around {{convert|25|C}} (less in the mountains).

Autumn in Slovakia starts on 23 September and is mostly characterised by wet weather and wind, although the first weeks can be very warm and sunny. The average temperature in September is around {{convert|14|C}}, in November to {{convert|3|C}}. Late September and early October is a dry and sunny time of year (so-called [[Indian summer]]).

Winter starts on 21 December with temperatures around {{convert|-5|to|-10|C}}. In December and January, it is usually snowing, these are the coldest months of the year. At lower altitudes, snow does not stay the whole winter, it changes into the thaw and frost. Winters are colder in the mountains, where the snow usually lasts until March or April and the night temperatures fall to {{convert|-20|C}} and colder.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slovensko.com/about/weather-climate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026021233/http://www.slovensko.com/about/weather-climate|archive-date=26 October 2007 |title=Based on the "Climate" article from |publisher=www.slovensko.com |access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref>

=== Biodiversity ===
[[File:Vysoké Tatry, Dolina Bielej vody, cestou od Zeleného plesa na Jahňací štít (32).JPG|thumb|''[[Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica]]'' in the [[Tatra Mountains]]]]
Slovakia signed the Rio [[Convention on Biological Diversity]] on 19&nbsp;May 1993, and became a party to the convention on 25&nbsp;August 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbd.int/convention/parties/list/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124005746/http://www.cbd.int/convention/parties/list/|archive-date=24 January 2011 |title=List of Parties |access-date=8 December 2012}}</ref> It has subsequently produced a [[Biodiversity action plan|National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan]], which was received by the convention on 2&nbsp;November 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/sk/sk-nbsap-01-p1-en.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080721013840/https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/sk/sk-nbsap-01-p1-en.pdf|archive-date=21 July 2008 |title=National Biodiversity Strategy of Slovakia |access-date=8 December 2012}}</ref>

The biodiversity of Slovakia comprises [[animal]]s (such as annelids, arthropods, molluscs, nematodes and vertebrates), [[fungi]] ([[Ascomycota]], [[Basidiomycota]], [[Chytridiomycota]], [[Glomeromycota]] and [[Zygomycota]]), micro-organisms (including [[Mycetozoa]]), and [[plant]]s. The geographical position of Slovakia determines the richness of the diversity of fauna and flora. More than 11,000 plant species have been described throughout its territory, nearly 29,000 animal species and over 1,000 species of protozoa. [[Endemism|Endemic]] biodiversity is also common.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://geography.upol.cz/soubory/lide/smolova/RGSR/ucebnice/fg/biota.html|title=Regionální geografie Slovenska – elektronická učebnice|website=geography.upol.cz|access-date=28 September 2019|archive-date=26 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526212050/https://geography.upol.cz/soubory/lide/smolova/RGSR/ucebnice/fg/biota.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Belianske Tatry.jpg|thumb|[[Belianske Tatras]]]]

Slovakia is located in the biome of [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forest]]s and terrestrial ecoregions of [[Pannonian mixed forests]] and [[Carpathian montane conifer forests]].<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{cite journal|last1=Dinerstein|first1=Eric|last2=Olson|first2=David|last3=Joshi|first3=Anup|last4=Vynne|first4=Carly|last5=Burgess|first5=Neil D.|last6=Wikramanayake|first6=Eric|last7=Hahn|first7=Nathan|last8=Palminteri|first8=Suzanne|last9=Hedao|first9=Prashant|last10=Noss|first10=Reed|last11=Hansen|first11=Matt|last12=Locke|first12=Harvey|last13=Ellis|first13=Erle C|last14=Jones|first14=Benjamin|last15=Barber|first15=Charles Victor|last16=Hayes|first16=Randy|last17=Kormos|first17=Cyril|last18=Martin|first18=Vance|last19=Crist|first19=Eileen|last20=Sechrest|first20=Wes|last21=Price|first21=Lori|last22=Baillie|first22=Jonathan E. M.|last23=Weeden|first23=Don|last24=Suckling|first24=Kierán|last25=Davis|first25=Crystal|last26=Sizer|first26=Nigel|last27=Moore|first27=Rebecca|last28=Thau|first28=David|last29=Birch|first29=Tanya|last30=Potapov|first30=Peter|last31=Turubanova|first31=Svetlana|last32=Tyukavina|first32=Alexandra|last33=de Souza|first33=Nadia|last34=Pintea|first34=Lilian|last35=Brito|first35=José C.|last36=Llewellyn|first36=Othman A.|last37=Miller|first37=Anthony G.|last38=Patzelt|first38=Annette|last39=Ghazanfar|first39=Shahina A.|last40=Timberlake|first40=Jonathan|last41=Klöser|first41=Heinz|last42=Shennan-Farpón|first42=Yara|last43=Kindt|first43=Roeland|last44=Lillesø|first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow|last45=van Breugel|first45=Paulo|last46=Graudal|first46=Lars|last47=Voge|first47=Maianna|last48=Al-Shammari|first48=Khalaf F.|last49=Saleem|first49=Muhammad|display-authors=1|title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm|journal=BioScience|volume=67|issue=6|year=2017|pages=534–545|issn=0006-3568|doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014|pmid=28608869|pmc=5451287|doi-access=free}}</ref> As the altitude changes, the vegetation associations and animal communities are forming height levels ([[oak]], [[beech]], [[spruce]], [[scrub pine]], [[alpine meadows]] and [[subsoil]]). Forests cover 44% of the territory of Slovakia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tasr.sk/|title=Tlačová agentúra Slovenskej republiky – TASR.sk|website=www.tasr.sk|access-date=28 September 2019|archive-date=12 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112181205/http://www.tasr.sk/|url-status=live}}</ref> The country had a 2019 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 4.34/10, ranking it 129th globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|display-authors=1|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057|bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G |doi-access=free}}</ref> In terms of forest stands, 60% are [[broadleaf trees]] and 40% are [[coniferous trees]]. The occurrence of animal species is strongly connected to the appropriate types of plant associations and biotopes.<ref name=":0"/>

Over 4,000 species of fungi have been recorded from Slovakia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cybertruffle.org.uk/robigalia/eng |title=Cybertruffle's Robigalia. Observations of fungi and their associated organisms |access-date=8 December 2012 |archive-date=31 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531115710/http://www.cybertruffle.org.uk/robigalia/eng/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Pavel Lizoň & Kamila Bacigálová, ''Huby – Fungi'' in F. Hindák [ed.] Checklist of Non-vascular and Vascular Plants of Slovakia (Bratislava, 1998), pp. 102–227.</ref> Of these, nearly 1,500 are [[lichen]]-forming species.<ref>Ivan Pišút, ''Lichenizované Huby (Lišajníky) – Lichen-forming Fungi (Lichens)'' in F. Hindák [ed.] Checklist of Non-vascular and Vascular Plants of Slovakia (Bratislava, 1998), pp. 229–295.</ref> Some of these fungi are undoubtedly endemic, but not enough is known to say how many. Of the lichen-forming species, about 40% have been classified as threatened in some way. About 7% are apparently extinct, 9% endangered, 17% vulnerable, and 7% rare. The conservation status of non-lichen-forming fungi in Slovakia is not well documented, but there is a red list for its larger fungi.<ref>Pavel Lizoň, ''Threatened macrofungi in Slovakia'' Biologia (Bratislava) 50: 9–12(1995).</ref>

=== Water ===
[[File:Mountain lake (Unsplash).jpg|thumb|right|Mountain lake [[Štrbské pleso]]]]

The entire population of Slovakia has access to a safe-drinking water source.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectator.sme.sk/politics-and-society/c/water-over-gold-new-slovak-fairy-tale|title=Water over gold. New Slovak fairy-tale?|website=The Slovak Spectator}}</ref> The country has one of the best quality tap water in the world, it is the second country in Europe (after [[Austria]]) with the largest reserves of drinking water. Groundwater is the drinking water source of the highest quality protected by [[Constitution of Slovakia]]. Since 2014, it is banned the export of [[drinking water|drinking]] and [[mineral water]]s in pipelines and water tanks. The ban excludes bottled water and water for personal use. Both, groundwater (82.2 %) as well as surface water (17.8 %) are exploited as drinking water sources. [[Žitný ostrov]] is the biggest natural groundwater source in Slovakia and as well in Central Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sdgs.un.org/partnerships/water-over-gold-protection-zitny-ostrov|title=Water over gold. Protection of Žitný ostrov|website=Sustainable Development Goals – the United Nations}}</ref>

About 1300 mineral sources are registered, providing curative water and high quality [[mineral water]] for drinking. There are 21 thermal [[spa town]]s built on these mineral springs. The most visited are [[Piešťany]], [[Trenčianske Teplice]], [[Bardejov]] and [[Dudince]].