Slovakia’s Geography: Climate, Rivers, and Landscapes
Weather in Slovakia
Western oceanic air masses and eastern continental air masses influence the weather.
- Lowest Temperatures: High Tatras, Low Tatras, Orava
- Highest Temperatures: Záhorie, Podunajská, Východoslovenská Lowland
- Highest Precipitation: High Tatras, Low Tatras, Žilina
- Lowest Precipitation: Záhorie, Ponitrie, Podunajská Lowland
Rivers and Drainage Basins
- Longest River with Tributaries: Váh (White Váh, Black Váh, Kysuca, Orava)
- Wateriest River with Tributaries: Danube (Morava, Váh, Hron, Ipeľ)
- Rivers of the Baltic Sea Drainage Basin: Dunajec, Poprad
International Borders
- Borders with Austria and Hungary: Danube River
- Border with Czechia: Morava River
Soil Types
- Black Earth: Driest, warmest climate; most fertile
- Brown Earth: Closer to mountains; more precipitation
- Luvisols: Lowland margins; damper, colder climate
- Fluvisols: Influenced by groundwater and flooding
- Molic Fluvisols: Along rivers in Slovakian lowlands; humus accumulations
- Solonchak: Warmest areas with more minerals and salts
- Gleys: Within permanently waterlogged areas, often flooded by rivers
- Peaty Soils: In soaked/waterlogged areas with peat
Soil Classes
- Sandy Soils: Light
- Loamy Soils: Medium, most fertile
- Clay Soils: Heavy, least fertile
Soil-Forming Factors
Climate, bedrock, slopes, and time.
Geology
Sedimentary Rocks
- Sandstone: Súľovské Vrchy
- Limestone: Demänovská Valley (Low Tatras)
- Marlstone: Záhorská Lowland
Crystalline Rocks
- Granite: High Tatras
- Gneiss: Malé Karpaty
- Schist: Slovak Ore Mountains
Volcanic Rocks
- Andesite: Poľana
- Basalt: Štiavnické Vrchy
- Rhyolite: Veporské Vrchy
Geomorphological Landforms
Aeolian Landforms
- Sand Dunes: Záhorská Lowland
- Deflation Hollows: Around Komárno
- Sand Sheets: Čenkovce area
Glacial Landforms
- Glacial Bowl: High Tatras
- Moraines: Mengusovská Valley
- Glacial Valley: Bielovodská Valley
Fluvial Landforms
- Meanders: Danube near Devín
- River Terraces: Váh near Trenčín
- River Channels: Hron near Zvolen
Anthropogenic Landforms
- Spoil Heaps: Banská Štiavnica
- Quarries: Devínska Kobyla
- Artificial Reservoirs: Gabčíkovo Waterworks
Vegetation Zones
- Oak Level: Oak, linden, chestnut, willow
- Beech Zone: Beech, fir, elm, maple, birch, alder
- Spruce Zone: Blueberry and cranberry bushes
- Dwarf Pine Zone: Blueberry, cranberry bushes
- Alpine Meadows: Lichens, mosses, alpine flora
- Flood-Plain Forests: Willow, poplar, alder