Ponitrie Protected Landscape Area

{{Short description|Protected landscape area of Slovakia}}

{{Infobox Protected area

| name = Ponitrie Protected Landscape Area
CHKO Ponitrie

| iucn_category = V

| photo = Hradok.jpg

| photo_caption = Hrádok, Vtáčnik mountains

| location = Western Slovakia

| coordinates = {{coord|48|37|N|19|28|E|region:SK_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| area = {{convert|376.65|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}

| established = 24 June 1985

| governing_body = Správa CHKO Ponitrie (Ponitrie PLA administration) in Nitra

}}

Ponitrie Protected Landscape Area ({{langx|sk|Chránená krajinná oblasť Ponitrie}}) is one of the 14 protected landscape areas in Slovakia. The Landscape Area is situated in the Tribeč and Vtáčnik mountains, in western Slovakia. It is situated in the Nitra, Zlaté Moravce, Žarnovica, Topoľčany, Partizánske and Prievidza districts.

History

The park was created on 24 June 1985. Protected areas declared before include Dobrotínske skaly (1980),[http://uzemia.enviroportal.sk/main/detail/cislo/33 Dobrodínske skaly at enviroportal.sk] Makovište (1973),[http://uzemia.enviroportal.sk/main/detail/cislo/342 Makovište at enviroportal.sk] Solčiansky háj (1984),[http://uzemia.enviroportal.sk/main/detail/cislo/157 Solčiansky háj at enviroportal.sk] and Zoborská lesostep (1952).[http://uzemia.enviroportal.sk/main/detail/cislo/196 Zoborská lesostep at enviroportal.sk]

Geography and geology

Although the PLA's territory is compact, it is made of two different landscapes. Vtáčnik, in the north is a range of volcanic origin and is part of the Slovenské stredohorie mountains. Beech and fir trees dominate in the area. The highest mountain is Vtáčnik at {{convert|1345.8|m|ft|abbr=on}}. Tribeč, in the south, is a crystalline mountain range built on granitoide rocks, limestone and dolomite. Beech, hornbeam and in higher locations oak forests are covering the area. The highest mountain is Veľký Tribeč at {{convert|829.6|m|ft|abbr=on}}.

References

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