Little Carpathians

The Little Carpathians (also: Lesser Carpathians, Slovak: Malé Karpaty; German: Kleine Karpaten; Hungarian: Kis-Kárpátok) are a low, about 100 km long, mountain range, part of the Carpathian Mountains. The mountains are situated in Western Slovakia, covering the area from Bratislava to Nové Mesto nad Váhom, and northeastern Austria, where a very small part called Hundsheimer Berge (or Hainburger Berge) is located south of the Devín Gate. The Little Carpathians are bordered by Záhorie Lowland in the west and the Danubian Lowland in the east.

Little Carpathians
Little Carpathians near Plavecké Podhradie
Highest point
PeakZáruby
Elevation768 m (2,520 ft)
Listing
Coordinates48°31′25″N 17°23′33″E 
Geography
Little Carpathians (shown by black & white diagonal lines) within the geomorphological division of Slovakia
CountriesSlovakia and Austria
Range coordinates48°25′N 17°15′E
Parent rangeWestern Carpathians

In 1976, the Little Carpathians were declared a protected area under the name Little Carpathians Protected Landscape Area, covering 646.1 km2 (249.5 sq mi). The area is rich in flora and fauna diversity and contains numerous castles, most notably the Bratislava Castle, and caves. Driny is the only cave open to the public. The three highest mountains are Záruby at 768 m (2,520 ft), Vysoká at 754 m (2,474 ft), and Vápenná at 752 m (2,467 ft).

Description

Geomorphologically, the Little Carpathians belong into the Alps-Himalaya System, the Carpathian Mountains sub-system, its province Western Carpathians, and its subprovince the Inner Western Carpathians.

The Little Carpathians are further divided into four parts (from south to north): Devín Carpathians (Slovak: Devínske Karpaty), Pezinok Carpathians (Slovak: Pezinské Karpaty), Brezová Carpathians (Slovak: Brezovské Karpaty) and Čachtice Carpathians (Slovak: Čachtické Karpaty).

Geomorphological division of the Little Carpathians[1]
Mountain range Division Subdivision
Little Carpathians Devín Carpathians (Slovak: Devínske Karpaty) – in Bratislava Devínska Kobyla (Slovak: Devínska Kobyla)
Bratislava Foothills (Slovak: Bratislavské predhorie)
Lamač Gate (Slovak: Lamačská brána)
Devín Gate (Slovak: Devínska brána)
Pezinok Carpathians (Slovak: Pezinské Karpaty) – from Bratislava to Buková Homoľa Carpathians (Slovak: Homoľské Karpaty)
Kuchynská hornatina
Stupava Foothills (Slovak: Stupavské predhorie)
Biele hory
Smolenická vrchovina
Lošonská kotlina
Plavecké predhorie
Bukovská brázda
Brezová Carpathians (Slovak: Brezovské Karpaty) – from Buková to Prašník Dobrovodská kotlina
Čachtice Carpathians (Slovak: Čachtické Karpaty) – from Prašník to Nové Mesto nad Váhom Plešivec
Nedze

The mountains are densely forested (90% being broad-leaved trees), and the southeastern part contains extensive vineyards (e.g. Rača, Pezinok, Modra). Several castles or castle ruins are situated in the Little Carpathians, for example Devín, Čachtice, Červený Kameň, and Smolenice castles.

Geologically, the mountain range is part of the Tatra-Fatra Belt of core mountains. There are several active faults, which have produced earthquakes. Of them the most notable is the Dobra Voda fault (1906 and 1930 produced 8.5° and 7.5° EMS-98 or equal to = 5.7 and 5.0).[2] This particular fault is closely monitored because of its proximity to the NPP Jaslovske Bohunice (approx. 15 km away). The Little Carpathians are seismically one of the most active regions in Slovakia and epicentres of earthquakes with approximate magnitude of 2.5 on Richter magnitude scale are located here.[3]

There are a total of eight karst areas in the Little Carpathians: the Devín Carpathians, Borinka (Pajštún), Cajlan, Kuchyňa-orešany, Plavecký, Smolenice, Dobrovodský, and Čachtice karsts. The most important karst forms include caves Deravá, Tmavá skala, Driny, and Čachtická, and caves along the Borinský potok. Driny, a limestone cave, is the only cave open to public. Major streams include Vydrica and Suchý jarok.

Highest peaks
Image Slovak name Height Location & Notes
 Záruby 767.4 meters AMSL
Above the village Smolenice
 Vysoká 754.3 meters AMSL
Outside of the main ridge of the Little Carpathians, above the village Kuchyňa, summit offers extensive views
 Vápenná (Roštún) 752.2 meters AMSL
Features a 4-meter tall concrete observation obelisk built in 2003
 Čertov kopec (vrch) 751.8 meters AMSL
Forested summit with no marked trails leading here
 Veterlín 723.5 meters AMSL
Havranica 717.1 meters AMSL
Čelo 716.0 meters AMSL
Forested summit with no marked trails leading here
 Veľká homoľa 709.2 meters AMSL
Since 2001, it features a 20 meters tall observation tower on the summit
 Čmeľok 709.0 meters AMSL
Features a military radar on the summit
 Skalnatá 704.2 meters AMSL
Offers extensive views

History
Abandoned pyrite mine near Pernek

While being a low mountain range, the Little Carpathians were always considered a mountain barrier, often attaining a height of 500 meters, as they were surrounded by various lowlands, . In the past, various types of ore were mined in the Little Carpathians used for the production of gold, silver, antimony, manganese and pyrite.

During the Second World War, the Little Carpathians were the birthplace of the partisan group Janko Kráľ. Insurgency in the mountains lasted until the occupation by the Soviet Red Army in 1945.

Tourism

The Little Carpathians are a popular tourist destination in Western Slovakia. The mountains are used for hiking, cycling, tramping, backpacking, automobile and motorcycle tourism, skiing, cross-country skiing, and other winter sports. The mountain range contains a dense network of trails, and the recreational infrastructure is relatively well developed, especially in the south. The Little Carpathians are a popular destination for the inhabitants of Bratislava and other larger cities in the region.

Since the Middle Ages, the area has been known for its wines and wine-making traditions. Well known centers of local wine-making include Svätý Jur, Modra and Pezinok. The main tourist centers include the Slovak capital Bratislava, Pezinská Baba (halfway between Pezinok and Pernek) and Zochova chata (near Modra).

Images
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See also

References
  1. Mazúr, E., Lukniš, M. 1986, Geomorfologické členenie SSR a ČSSR. Časť Slovensko. Slovenská kartografia, Bratislava
  2. Madarás J. et al., Mineralia Slovaca 4/2012
  3. Moczo, P. (2011). Výsledky v seizmológii v r. 2009–2011 v SR. In Bratislava (Slovak Republic): Katedra astronómie, fyziky Zeme a meteorológie Fakulty fyziky, matematiky a informatiky Univerzity Komenského.: IX. Slovenská geofyzikálna konferencia. 22.6.2011
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