Muránska Planina National Park (Slovak: Národný park Muránska planina) is one of the youngest national parks in Slovakia. The core area is 21,318 hectares, and the protective belt is 21,698 hectares. The park includes 14 smaller protected territories. The headquarters are located in Revúca.
History
The area that is now Muránska Planina National Park was first protected in 1976 as a protected scenic area. In October 1997, its status was changed to a national park. The park was officially opened on May 27, 1998.
Location
Muránska Planina National Park is located on the border between Central and Eastern Slovakia, far from the country's borders. It lies between the Horehronie region in the north and the Gemer region in the south. The park extends from the Klenovská Rimava valley in the west to the Javorinka saddle and the village of Červená Skala in the east. It covers parts of three districts in the Banská Bystrica Region: Brezno in the north, Rimavská Sobota in the south, and Revúca in the southeast. The park includes land areas of the town of Tisovec and eight villages, as well as their surrounding regions. It protects the Muráň Plateau, which is part of the Slovenské rudohorie mountain range.
Geology
The geology of the Muránska planina began during the Mesozoic era. At that time, a large block of dolomite and limestone moved to the area now covered by the national park, creating a nappe. Because of this, the center of the park remains a plateau made of limestone and dolomite, with karst features. Over millions of years, water carved deep valleys and furrows, forming a rugged landscape. Steep rocky ravines are mostly found on the northwestern and southeastern edges of the park. In contrast, the top of the plateau is mostly flat and ranges in elevation from 900 meters to 1,400 meters. Due to the well-developed karst, the plateau has many natural features, including caves, sinkholes, sinkholes, karrens, and springs.
The landscape of the Muránska planina national park is rough and rocky in many areas. The central part of the park is shaped by the Muránska planina mountain massif, which is part of the Spišsko-gemerský kras karst region. The total length of the karst area from the village of Červená Skala (near Šumiac) to the town of Tisovec is about 25 kilometers.
The lowest point in the park is near the village of Muráň, at 400 meters above sea level. The highest point inside the park is Fabova hoľa, at 1,439 meters above sea level. However, a taller peak, Stolica, at 1,476 meters above sea level, is located in the buffer zone. Stolica is also the highest mountain in the Slovak Ore Mountains.
More than 150 caves are found in the area, but they are not open to the public.
Flora
The plant life in the National Park is well-known for its variety and the number of different species. There are 35 types of plants that are found only in this area, such as Daphne arbuscula. Forests cover nearly 90% of the park's land.
Tourism
Tourist attractions include 300 kilometers of hiking trails with signs and two trails that teach visitors about the area. One of these trails is named after Jakub Surovec. Visitors can enter the park through nearby villages such as Muráň and Závadka nad Hronom. A castle called Muráň Castle is located on a rock in the center of the mountain range.
Protected areas
The national park includes 10 national nature reserves, 1 national natural monument, 1 natural monument, 7 nature preserves, 1 special protection area, and 1 site of community importance:
- National nature preserves: Cigánka Hrdzavá Javorníková Kášter Malá Stožka Poludnica Šarkanica Šiance Veľká Stožka Zlatnica
- National natural monuments: Bobačka
- Natural Monuments: Wesselényiho jaskyňa
- Nature preserves: Čertova dolina Fabova hoľa Havrania dolina Mašianske skalky Mokrá poľana Nad Furmancom Zlatnianske skalky
- Special protection areas: Muránska planina – Stolica
- Sites of community importance: Muránska planina