Vihorlat Protected Landscape Area

The protected landscape area Vihorlat (Slovak Chranena krajinná oblasť Vihorlat ) is a nature reserve in eastern Slovakia. It covers the central and eastern part of the Vihorlat Mountains, which is counted among the Eastern Carpathians. The area is Košice kraj ( Okresy Michalovce and Sobrance ) and Prešov Region ( Okresy Humenné and Snina ) divided between the districts and covers an area of ​​174.85 km ². In part, the area covered with the military area Valaškovce.

The seat of government is located in Michalovce. The nature reserve was proclaimed in 1973 and changed the law in question in 1999.

Geography

The Vihorlat Mountains are of volcanic origin. The majority of the part lying in the PLA is dominated by volcanic rock that emerged during the volcanic activity of the late Tertiary. Later, various rock formations originated as those at the top of the Sninský kameň (1006 m nm). The highest mountain is the Vihorlat with 1076 m nm

The area belongs to the catchment area of the Laborec, a larger area of ​​the lake near the dam Zemplínska šírava. Through the mountains, the river Okna, at its upper reaches by landslide of volcanic rocks of the Lake Sea Eye ( " Seeauge ", about 620 m nm) was, together with the much smaller Lake Malé Sea Eye flows. Still higher up the lake is Kotlik at an altitude of 850 m nm

Flora and Fauna

The area is heavily wooded and provides a contrast to the largely deforested East Slovak Lowland dar. In the mountains, the deciduous trees dominate, in deeper layers grow oak and hornbeam, beech above, on the rocky slopes maples and ash trees. Due to the location of the mountain and its climatic characteristics here grow westkarpatische, ostkarpatische and Pannonian plant species. On the north side grow typical mountain species such as Carpathian Soldanelle, while more heat- loving plants are represented on the south side. Among the legally protected plants include Spring Snowflake Flower, Large Telekie or East Carpathian monkshood.

The influence of the East Slovak Lowland and the Eastern Carpathians is also noticeable in the animal world. To date, more than 2,000 species of invertebrates are known. Some typical vertebrates are the Carpathian newt, newts, Aesculapian and nearly 100 species of nesting birds, such as the black stork, honey buzzard, spotted eagle or snake eagle. Even predators such as the wolf, lynx, otter and wildcat are present in the woods.

Special Conservation

• Národné Prírodné rezervácie (NPR, National Nature Reserves )

• Prírodné pamiatky (PP, natural monuments )

• Prírodné rezervácie (PR, nature reserves )

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