Editing Geography of Slovakia (section)

== Geographical features ==

=== 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 {{convert|750|km2|0|abbr=out}}, of which the greater part {{convert|600|km2|0|abbr=out}} 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]].

=== 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}}</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. They are [[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:Belá river (Slovakia).jpg|thumb|right|[[Belá (river)|Belá 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}}</ref>