View source for Geography of Slovakia

{{Short description|None}}
{{Country geography
|name = Slovakia
|map = Slovakia general relief map.svg
|continent = [[Europe]]
|region = [[Central Europe]]
|km area = 49,035
|highest point = [[Gerlachovský štít]]
|longest river = [[Váh]]
|largest lake = [[Orava (reservoir)|Orava reservoir]]
|climate = [[continental climate]]
|natural resources =
}}
[[File:Slovakia topo.jpg|thumb|right|A [[topography|topographical]] map of Slovakia]]

[[Slovakia]] is a landlocked [[Central Europe]]an country with mountainous regions in the north and flat terrain in the south.<ref name=Vaskovsk1981>{{Cite journal|title=The development of the natural landscape in Slovakia during the Quaternary|journal=[[Biuletyn Peryglacjalny]]|last=Vaškovský|first=Imrich|volume=28|pages=249–258|last2=Vaškovská|first2=Eugenia|year=1981}}</ref> During much of the [[Holocene]], Slovakia was much more forested than today.<ref name=Vaskovsk1981/> Decline of the forest occurred in as consequence of the [[Vlachs#Shepherd culture|Valachian colonization]] and the development of mining in the territory.<ref name=Vaskovsk1981/>

== Statistics ==
'''Land use:'''

''agricultural land'': 40.1%

''arable land'': 28.9%; permanent crops: 0.4%; permanent pasture: 10.8%

''forest'': 40.2%

''other'': 19.7% (2011 est.)

'''Natural resources''':

Lignite, small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land

'''Natural Hazards''':

Flooding

'''Environment-international agreements:'''

''Party to'': Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, [[Desertification]], Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling.

''Signed, but not ratified'': none of the selected agreements

==Area==
[[Image:SlovakiaOMCmap.png|thumb|300px|right|Slovakia's cities and main towns]]

Slovakia lies between 49°36'48" and 47°44'21" northern latitude and 16°50'56" and 22°33'53" eastern longitude.

The northernmost point is near Beskydok, a mountain on the border with Poland near the village of [[Oravská Polhora]] in the [[Beskids]]. The southernmost point is near the village of [[Patince]] on the [[Danube]] on the border with [[Hungary]]. The westernmost point is on the [[Morava (river)|Morava River]] near [[Záhorská Ves]] on the Austrian border. The easternmost point is close to the summit of [[Kremenec]], a mountain near the village of [[Nová Sedlica]] at the meeting point of Slovak, Polish, and Ukrainian borders.

[[File:Natural resources of Slovakia.png|thumb|300px|right|Natural resources of Slovakia. Mg — magneisum, Mn — manganese, Fe — iron ore, Cu — copper, Sb — antimony; PM — polymetals (Pb, Zn and similar metals); L — lignite, O — oil.]]
[[Image:Gerlach south face B.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Gerlachovský štít|highest mountain]]]]
The highest point is at the summit of [[Gerlachovský štít]] in the [[High Tatras]], {{convert|2655|m|ft|1|abbr=on}}, the lowest point is the surface of the [[Bodrog|Bodrog River]] on the Hungarian border at {{convert|94|m|ft|1|abbr=on}}.

The country's area is {{convert|48845|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}. 31% is arable land, 17% pastures, 41% forests, 3% cultivated land. The remaining 8% is mostly covered with human structures and infrastructure, and partly with rocky mountain ridges and other unimproved land.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.bedekr.cz/staty/Evropa/Slovensko?det=cia_geo.html| title = bedekr.cz| access-date = 2008-01-23| archive-date = 2020-11-27| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201127164236/http://www.bedekr.cz/staty/Evropa/Slovensko?det=cia_geo.html| url-status = dead}}</ref>

Slovakia borders [[Poland]] in the north - {{convert|547|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}, [[Ukraine]] in the east - {{convert|98|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}, Hungary in the south - {{convert|679|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}, [[Austria]] in the south-west - {{convert|106|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}, and the [[Czech Republic]] in the north-west - {{convert|252|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} for a total border length of {{convert|1672|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}.<ref>Slovak Wikipedia: [[:sk:Slovensko#Hranice]]</ref>

The village of [[Veľké Slemence]] (Ukrainian: [[Mali Slementsi/Малі Селменці]], Hungarian: Szelmenc) is an anomaly, as it is a village with a majority of Hungarians, but it is split between [[Slovakia]] and [[Geography of Ukraine|Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Veľké Slemence|url=https://www.google.se/maps/place/076+77+Ve%C4%BEk%C3%A9+Slemence,+Slovakien/@48.4999457,22.1121494,13z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x4738e00346025179:0x152a6a602ccc4f7f!8m2!3d48.509593!4d22.1470481|access-date=2021-04-05|website=Veľké Slemence|language=en}}</ref>

=== National parks ===
{{Main|List of national parks of Slovakia}}
[[File:Palcmanská Maša.JPG|thumb|right|[[Slovak Paradise National Park]]]]
There are 9 national parks in Slovakia, covering 6.5% of the Slovak land surface.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lamnia.sk/maco/turistika/np/index.php|title=Národné parky na Slovensku|publisher=lamnia.sk|access-date=26 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010135408/http://www.lamnia.sk/maco/turistika/np/index.php|archive-date=10 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Name
!Established
!Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
|-
|[[Tatra National Park, Slovakia|Tatra National Park]]
|1949
|738
|-
|[[Low Tatras National Park]]
|1978
|728
|-
|[[Veľká Fatra National Park]]
|2002
|404
|-
|[[Slovak Karst National Park]]
|2002
|346
|-
|[[Poloniny National Park]]
|1997
|298
|-
|[[Malá Fatra National Park]]
|1988
|226
|-
|[[Muránska planina National Park]]
|1998
|203
|-
|[[Slovak Paradise National Park]]
|1988
|197
|-
|[[Pieniny National Park (Slovakia)|Pieniny National Park]]
|1967
|38
|}

== Geographical features ==

=== Tatra mountains ===
{{Main|Tatra Mountains}}
[[File:Slovakia topo.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|A [[topography|topographical]] map of Slovakia]]

The Tatra Mountains, with 29 peaks higher than {{convert|2500|m|0|abbr=off}} [[Sea level#AMSL|AMSL]], are the highest mountain range in the Carpathian Mountains. The Tatras occupy an area of {{convert|750|km2|0|abbr=out}}, of which the greater part {{convert|600|km2|0|abbr=out}} lies in Slovakia. They are divided into several parts.

To the north, close to the Polish border, are the [[High Tatras]] which are a popular [[hiking]] and [[skiing]] destination and home to many scenic lakes and valleys as well as the highest point in Slovakia, the [[Gerlachovský štít]] at {{convert|2655|m|0}} and the country's highly symbolic mountain [[Kriváň (peak)|Kriváň]]. To the west are the [[Western Tatras]] with their highest peak of [[Bystrá (mountain)|Bystrá]] at {{convert|2248|m|0}} and to the east are the [[Belianske Tatras]], smallest by area.

Separated from the Tatras proper by the valley of the [[Váh]] river are the [[Low Tatras]], with their highest peak of [[Ďumbier]] at {{convert|2043|m|0}}.

The Tatra mountain range is represented as one of the three hills on the [[coat of arms of Slovakia]].

=== Caves ===
{{Main|List of caves in Slovakia}}
[[File:Domica Cave 20.jpg|thumb|right|[[Domica]] Cave]]

Slovakia has hundreds of caves and caverns under its mountains, of which 30 are open to the public.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ssj.sk/sk/verejnosti-volne-pristupne-jaskyne|title=Verejnosti voľne prístupné jaskyne|publisher=ssj.sk |access-date=19 August 2017}}</ref> Most of the caves have [[stalagmite]]s rising from the ground and [[stalactite]]s hanging from above. There are currently five Slovak caves under [[UNESCO]]'s World Heritage Site status. They are [[Dobšiná Ice Cave]], [[Domica]], [[Gombasek Cave]], [[Jasovská Cave]] and [[Ochtinská Aragonite Cave]]. Other caves open to the public include [[Belianska Cave]], [[Demänovská Cave of Liberty]], [[Demänovská Ice Cave]] or [[Bystrianska Cave]].

=== Rivers ===
{{Main|List of rivers of Slovakia}}
[[File:Belá river (Slovakia).jpg|thumb|right|[[Belá (river)|Belá River]]]]

Most of the rivers arise in the Slovak mountains. Some only pass through Slovakia, while others make a natural border with surrounding countries (more than {{convert|620|km|mi|disp=sqbr}}). For example, the [[Dunajec]] ({{convert|17|km|disp=sqbr}}) to the north, the [[Danube River|Danube]] ({{convert|172|km|disp=sqbr}}) to the south or the [[Morava (river)|Morava]] ({{convert|119|km|disp=sqbr}}) to the West. The total length of the rivers on Slovak territory is {{convert|49774|km}}.

The longest river in Slovakia is the [[Váh]] ({{convert|403|km|disp=sqbr}}), the shortest is the Čierna voda. Other important and large rivers are the [[Myjava (river)|Myjava]], the [[Nitra (river)|Nitra]] ({{convert|197|km|disp=sqbr}}), the [[Orava (river)|Orava]], the [[Hron]] ({{convert|298|km|disp=sqbr}}), the [[Hornád]] ({{convert|193|km|disp=sqbr}}), the [[Slaná river|Slaná]] ({{convert|110|km|disp=sqbr}}), the [[Ipeľ]] ({{convert|232|km|disp=sqbr}}, forming the border with Hungary), the [[Bodrog]], the [[Laborec]], the [[Latorica]] and the [[Ondava]].

The biggest volume of discharge in Slovak rivers is during [[Spring (season)|spring]], when the snow melts from the mountains. The only exception is the Danube, whose discharge is the greatest during summer when the snow melts in the [[Alps]]. The Danube is the largest river that flows through Slovakia.<ref>{{cite web|author=Nie ste prihlásený. |url=http://www.slovakregion.sk/vodstvo-jazera-rieky-rybniky-slovenska |title=Vodstvo – Jazerá - rieky - rybníky Slovenska |publisher=Slovakregion.sk |access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref>

== Climate ==
{{multiple image
| align = left
| direction = vertical
| width =
| image1 = CulHer14Slovakia328.JPG
| width1 = 190
| caption1 = Summer in [[Spišské Podhradie]]
| image2 = Banská Štiavnica im Herbst.JPG
| width2 = 195
| caption2 = Winter in [[Banská Štiavnica]]; the town is a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]].
}}

The Slovak climate lies between the temperate and [[continental climate]] zones with relatively warm [[summer]]s and cold, cloudy and humid [[winter]]s. Temperature extremes are between {{convert|-41|and|40.3|C}} although temperatures below {{convert|-30|C}} are rare. The weather differs from the mountainous north to the plains in the south.

The warmest region is [[Bratislava]] and Southern Slovakia where the temperatures may reach {{convert|30|C}} in summer, occasionally to {{convert|39|C}} in [[Hurbanovo]]. During night, the temperatures drop to {{convert|20|C}}. The daily temperatures in winter average in the range of {{convert|-5|C}} to {{convert|10|C}}. During night it may be freezing, but usually not below {{convert|-10|C}}.

In Slovakia, there are four [[season]]s, each season ([[Spring (season)|spring]], summer, [[autumn]] and [[winter]]) lasts three months. The dry continental air brings in the summer heat and winter frosts. In contrast, oceanic air brings rainfalls and reduces summer temperatures. In the lowlands and valleys, there is often fog, especially in winter.

Spring starts with 21 March and is characterised by colder weather with an average daily temperature of {{convert|9|C}} in the first weeks and about {{convert|14|C}} in May and {{convert|17|C}} in June. In Slovakia, the weather and climate in the spring are very unstable.

Summer starts on 22 June and is usually characterised by hot weather with daily temperatures exceeding {{convert|30|C}}. July  and August are the warmest months with temperatures up to about {{convert|37|to|40|C}}, especially in regions of southern Slovakia - in the urban area of Komárno, Hurbanovo or Štúrovo. Showers or thunderstorms may occur because of the summer monsoon called Medardova kvapka (Medard drop - 40 days of rain). Summer in Northern Slovakia is usually mild with temperatures around {{convert|25|C}} (less in the mountains).

Autumn in Slovakia starts on 23 September and is mostly characterised by wet weather and wind, although the first weeks can be very warm and sunny. The average temperature in September is around {{convert|14|C}}, in November to {{convert|3|C}}. Late September and early October is a dry and sunny time of year (so-called [[Indian summer]]).

Winter starts on 21 December with temperatures around {{convert|-5|to|-10|C}}. In December and January, it is usually snowing, these are the coldest months of the year. At lower altitudes, snow does not stay the whole winter, it changes into the thaw and frost. Winters are colder in the mountains, where the snow usually lasts until March or April and the night temperatures fall to {{convert|-20|C}} and colder.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slovensko.com/about/weather-climate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026021233/http://www.slovensko.com/about/weather-climate|archive-date=26 October 2007 |title=Based on the "Climate" article from |publisher=www.slovensko.com |access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref>

=== Examples ===
{{Weather box
|width = auto 
|location = Bratislava (1981–2010)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes 
|Jan record high C = 19.8
|Feb record high C = 19.1
|Mar record high C = 25.0
|Apr record high C = 30.3
|May record high C = 33.4
|Jun record high C = 36.3
|Jul record high C = 38.2
|Aug record high C = 39.3
|Sep record high C = 34.0
|Oct record high C = 30.0
|Nov record high C = 21.3
|Dec record high C = 17.9
|year record high C = 39.3
|Jan high C = 2.7
|Feb high C = 5.1
|Mar high C = 10.3
|Apr high C = 16.7
|May high C = 21.8
|Jun high C = 24.9
|Jul high C = 27.5
|Aug high C = 27.0
|Sep high C = 21.7
|Oct high C = 15.6
|Nov high C = 8.2
|Dec high C = 3.3
|year high C = 15.4
|Jan mean C = −0.4
|Feb mean C = 1.2
|Mar mean C = 5.5
|Apr mean C = 11.0
|May mean C = 16.0
|Jun mean C = 19.1
|Jul mean C = 21.3
|Aug mean C = 20.7
|Sep mean C = 15.9
|Oct mean C = 10.4
|Nov mean C = 4.9
|Dec mean C = 0.7
|year mean C = 10.5
|Jan low C = −3.4
|Feb low C = −2.3
|Mar low C = 1.3
|Apr low C = 5.4
|May low C = 10.2
|Jun low C = 13.4
|Jul low C = 15.4
|Aug low C = 15.0
|Sep low C = 11.0
|Oct low C = 6.1
|Nov low C = 1.8
|Dec low C = −1.9
|year low C = 6.0
|Jan record low C = −24.6
|Feb record low C = −20.0
|Mar record low C = −15.1
|Apr record low C = −4.4
|May record low C = −2.0
|Jun record low C = 3.0
|Jul record low C = 7.0
|Aug record low C = 5.0
|Sep record low C = -2.0
|Oct record low C = −8.0
|Nov record low C = −12.0
|Dec record low C = −20.0
|year record low C = −24.6
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 39
|Feb precipitation mm = 37
|Mar precipitation mm = 38
|Apr precipitation mm = 34
|May precipitation mm = 55
|Jun precipitation mm = 57
|Jul precipitation mm = 53
|Aug precipitation mm = 59
|Sep precipitation mm = 55
|Oct precipitation mm = 38
|Nov precipitation mm = 54
|Dec precipitation mm = 46
|year precipitation mm = 565
|Jan snow cm = 10.7
|Feb snow cm = 5.7
|Mar snow cm = 1.6
|Apr snow cm = 0.2
|May snow cm = 0.0
|Jun snow cm = 0.0
|Jul snow cm = 0.0
|Aug snow cm = 0.0
|Sep snow cm = 0.0
|Oct snow cm = 0.2
|Nov snow cm = 1.8
|Dec snow cm = 4.0
|year snow cm =
|Jan humidity = 83
|Feb humidity = 78
|Mar humidity = 71
|Apr humidity = 64
|May humidity = 67
|Jun humidity = 66
|Jul humidity = 64
|Aug humidity = 65
|Sep humidity = 73
|Oct humidity = 78
|Nov humidity = 83
|Dec humidity = 85
|year humidity = 73
|Jan sun = 65.1
|Feb sun = 81.9
|Mar sun = 151.9
|Apr sun = 204.0
|May sun = 263.5
|Jun sun = 270.0
|Jul sun = 275.9
|Aug sun = 269.7
|Sep sun = 207.0
|Oct sun = 142.6
|Nov sun = 60.0
|Dec sun = 46.5
|year sun = 2038.1
| Jan uv  =1
| Feb uv  =2
| Mar uv  =3
| Apr uv  =4
| May uv  =6
| Jun uv  =7
| Jul uv  =7
| Aug uv  =6
| Sep uv  =4
| Oct uv  =3
| Nov uv  =1
| Dec uv  =1
|source 1 = Pogodaiklimat.ru,<ref name = Pogodaiklimat.rubratislava>{{cite web
|url = http://pogodaiklimat.ru/climate2/11816.htm
|title = Pogodaiklimat.ru – Bratislava
|publisher = Pogodaiklimat.ru
|access-date = 20 March 2014}}</ref> Climatemps<ref name= ClimatempsBratislava>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bratislava.climatemps.com/
|title = Climate of Bratislava
|publisher = Climatemps
|access-date = 20 March 2013
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190506011453/http://www.bratislava.climatemps.com/
|archive-date = May 6, 2019
|url-status = dead
}}</ref> and Weather Atlas<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/slovakia/bratislava-climate|title=Bratislava, Slovakia - Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast|publisher=Yu Media Group|website=Weather Atlas|language=en|access-date=2019-07-03}}</ref>
|date = March 2014

}}

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Košice, Slovakia (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1980−present)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|collapsed = Yes 
|Jan record high C = 13.1
|Feb record high C = 16.5
|Mar record high C = 23.2
|Apr record high C = 28.7
|May record high C = 31.7
|Jun record high C = 34.6
|Jul record high C = 38.0
|Aug record high C = 36.1
|Sep record high C = 34.1
|Oct record high C = 26.6
|Nov record high C = 22.4
|Dec record high C = 13.3
|year record high C = 38.0
|Jan high C = 1.0
|Feb high C = 3.7
|Mar high C = 9.9
|Apr high C = 16.5
|May high C = 21.2
|Jun high C = 24.8
|Jul high C = 26.6
|Aug high C = 26.8
|Sep high C = 21.2
|Oct high C = 14.8
|Nov high C = 8.1
|Dec high C = 1.8
|Jan mean C = -2.6
|Feb mean C = -0.4
|Mar mean C = 4.5
|Apr mean C = 9.6
|May mean C = 14.6
|Jun mean C = 17.5
|Jul mean C = 19.3
|Aug mean C = 19.1
|Sep mean C = 14.8
|Oct mean C = 9.4
|Nov mean C = 3.0
|Dec mean C = -1.3
|Jan low C = -4.8
|Feb low C = -3.5
|Mar low C = 0.0
|Apr low C = 5.0
|May low C = 9.6
|Jun low C = 13.2
|Jul low C = 14.8
|Aug low C = 14.6
|Sep low C = 10.1
|Oct low C = 5.3
|Nov low C = 1.2
|Dec low C = -3.3
|Jan record low C = -25.9
|Feb record low C = -22.3
|Mar record low C = -16.4
|Apr record low C = -7.2
|May record low C = -2.0
|Jun record low C = 2.9
|Jul record low C = 5.6
|Aug record low C = 1.2
|Sep record low C = 0.3
|Oct record low C = -7.5
|Nov record low C = -13.5
|Dec record low C = -19.2
|year record low C = -25.9
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 25.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 26.8
|Mar precipitation mm = 23.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 42.4
|May precipitation mm = 69.4
|Jun precipitation mm = 87.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 93.5
|Aug precipitation mm = 66.5
|Sep precipitation mm = 50.1
|Oct precipitation mm = 51.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 40.2
|Dec precipitation mm = 36.1
|Jan precipitation days = 12.7
|Feb precipitation days = 10.8
|Mar precipitation days = 9.0
|Apr precipitation days = 10.8
|May precipitation days = 13.3
|Jun precipitation days = 13.4
|Jul precipitation days = 12.9
|Aug precipitation days = 9.7
|Sep precipitation days = 10.7
|Oct precipitation days = 11.0
|Nov precipitation days = 11.9
|Dec precipitation days = 14.2
| Jan humidity = 78
| Feb humidity = 72
| Mar humidity = 59
| Apr humidity = 51
| May humidity = 51
| Jun humidity = 55
| Jul humidity = 53
| Aug humidity = 53
| Sep humidity = 53
| Oct humidity = 61
| Nov humidity = 76
| Dec humidity = 82
| year humidity = 
| Jan sun = 67
| Feb sun = 86
| Mar sun = 166
| Apr sun = 204
| May sun = 266
| Jun sun = 259
| Jul sun = 282
| Aug sun = 258
| Sep sun = 216
| Oct sun = 153
| Nov sun = 68
| Dec sun = 47
| year sun = 
| source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organisation]]<ref name=KosiceWMO>{{cite web|url= http://worldweather.wmo.int/011/c01228.htm|title= World Weather Information Service – Košice|date=July 2011}}</ref>
| source 2 = [[Danish Meteorological Institute]] (humidity and sun 1931–1960)<ref name=DMI3kosice>{{cite web | last1 = Cappelen | first1 = John | last2 = Jensen | first2 = Jens | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130427173827/http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf | archive-date = 27 April 2013 | url = http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf | work = Climate Data for Selected Stations (1931-1960) | title = TJEKKIET - Kosice  | page = 274 | publisher = Danish Meteorological Institute | language = da | access-date = 14 October 2019}}</ref><ref name ="extremes kosice">{{cite web
| url = https://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie/normales-records/1991-2020/kosice/valeurs/11968.html
|title=Normales et records pour la période 1991-2020 à Kosice
| publisher = infoclimat.fr
| access-date = February 18, 2022}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Hurbanovo
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|collapsed = Yes 
|Jan record high C = 13.4
|Feb record high C = 20.8
|Mar record high C = 25.7
|Apr record high C = 30.0
|May record high C = 33.4
|Jun record high C = 34.8
|Jul record high C = 40.3
|Aug record high C = 38.0
|Sep record high C = 33.4
|Oct record high C = 27.6
|Nov record high C = 23.2
|Dec record high C = 19.0
|year record high C = 
|Jan high C = 1.6
|Feb high C = 4.8
|Mar high C = 10.6
|Apr high C = 16.6
|May high C = 21.7
|Jun high C = 24.7
|Jul high C = 26.8
|Aug high C = 26.2
|Sep high C = 22.3
|Oct high C = 16.3
|Nov high C = 8.4
|Dec high C = 3.2
|year high C = 15.3
|Jan mean C = -1.5
|Feb mean C = 1.0
|Mar mean C = 5.4
|Apr mean C = 10.7
|May mean C = 15.6
|Jun mean C = 18.7
|Jul mean C = 20.2
|Aug mean C = 19.5
|Sep mean C = 15.5
|Oct mean C = 10.2
|Nov mean C = 4.7
|Dec mean C = 0.4
|year mean C = 10.0
|Jan low C = -4.7
|Feb low C = -2.5
|Mar low C = 0.9
|Apr low C = 5.0
|May low C = 9.6
|Jun low C = 12.7
|Jul low C = 13.8
|Aug low C = 13.5
|Sep low C = 10.1
|Oct low C = 5.4
|Nov low C = 1.4
|Dec low C = -2.5
|year low C = 5.2
|Jan record low C = -23.0
|Feb record low C = -22.4
|Mar record low C = -21.4
|Apr record low C = -5.3
|May record low C = -1.8
|Jun record low C = 2.2
|Jul record low C = 4.5
|Aug record low C = 4.5
|Sep record low C = -1.7
|Oct record low C = -1.6
|Nov record low C = -14.1
|Dec record low C = -21.0
|year record low C = -23.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 33.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 34.0
|Mar precipitation mm = 26.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 38.8
|May precipitation mm = 55.3
|Jun precipitation mm = 60.8
|Jul precipitation mm = 50.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 37.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 38.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 32.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 53.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 39.8
|year precipitation mm = 521.7
|Jan humidity = 83
|Feb humidity = 79
|Mar humidity = 72
|Apr humidity = 65
|May humidity = 66
|Jun humidity = 68
|Jul humidity = 66
|Aug humidity = 69
|Sep humidity = 74
|Oct humidity = 76
|Nov humidity = 82
|Dec humidity = 85
|year humidity = 74
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 6.9
|Feb precipitation days = 6.4
|Mar precipitation days = 5.9
|Apr precipitation days = 6.4
|May precipitation days = 8.3
|Jun precipitation days = 8.3
|Jul precipitation days = 7.1
|Aug precipitation days = 6.8
|Sep precipitation days = 5.6
|Oct precipitation days = 5.0
|Nov precipitation days = 7.8
|Dec precipitation days = 7.5
|year precipitation days = 82.0
|Jan sun = 61.9
|Feb sun = 85.0
|Mar sun = 134.3
|Apr sun = 178.8
|May sun = 229.0
|Jun sun = 237.4
|Jul sun = 259.4
|Aug sun = 236.8
|Sep sun = 184.3
|Oct sun = 143.7
|Nov sun = 69.1
|Dec sun = 51.6
|year sun = 1871.3
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAAHurbanovo>{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_VI/S1/11858.TXT
| title = Hurbanovo Climate Normals 1961-1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201031210823/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_VI/S1/11858.TXT
| archive-date = 2020-10-31
| url-status = dead
| access-date = March 3, 2015}}</ref> OGIMET<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=11858&ano=2021&mes=2&day=26&hora=12&min=0&ndays=30 |title=11858:   Hurbanovo (Slovakia) |publisher=OGIMET |access-date=26 February 2021 |date=26 February 2021}}</ref>
|date=May 2013
}}

== Biodiversity ==
[[File:Vysoké Tatry, Dolina Bielej vody, cestou od Zeleného plesa na Jahňací štít (32).JPG|thumb|''[[Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica]]'' in the [[Tatra Mountains]]]]
Slovakia signed the Rio [[Convention on Biological Diversity]] on 19 May 1993, and became a party to the convention on 25 August 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbd.int/convention/parties/list/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124005746/http://www.cbd.int/convention/parties/list/|archive-date=24 January 2011 |title=List of Parties |access-date=8 December 2012}}</ref> It has subsequently produced a [[Biodiversity action plan|National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan]], which was received by the convention on 2 November 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/sk/sk-nbsap-01-p1-en.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080721013840/https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/sk/sk-nbsap-01-p1-en.pdf|archive-date=21 July 2008 |title=National Biodiversity Strategy of Slovakia |access-date=8 December 2012}}</ref>

The biodiversity of Slovakia comprises [[animal]]s (such as annelids, arthropods, molluscs, nematodes and vertebrates), [[fungi]] ([[Ascomycota]], [[Basidiomycota]], [[Chytridiomycota]], [[Glomeromycota]] and [[Zygomycota]]), micro-organisms (including [[Mycetozoa]]), and [[plant]]s. The geographical position of Slovakia determines the richness of the diversity of fauna and flora. More than 11,000 plant species have been described throughout its territory, nearly 29,000 animal species and over 1,000 species of protozoa. [[Endemism|Endemic]] biodiversity is also common.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://geography.upol.cz/soubory/lide/smolova/RGSR/ucebnice/fg/biota.html|title=Regionální geografie Slovenska - elektronická učebnice|website=geography.upol.cz|access-date=28 September 2019}}</ref>

Slovakia is located in the biome of [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forest]]s and terrestrial ecoregions of [[Pannonian mixed forests]] and [[Carpathian montane conifer forests]].<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{cite journal|last1=Dinerstein|first1=Eric|last2=Olson|first2=David|last3=Joshi|first3=Anup|last4=Vynne|first4=Carly|last5=Burgess|first5=Neil D.|last6=Wikramanayake|first6=Eric|last7=Hahn|first7=Nathan|last8=Palminteri|first8=Suzanne|last9=Hedao|first9=Prashant|last10=Noss|first10=Reed|last11=Hansen|first11=Matt|last12=Locke|first12=Harvey|last13=Ellis|first13=Erle C|last14=Jones|first14=Benjamin|last15=Barber|first15=Charles Victor|last16=Hayes|first16=Randy|last17=Kormos|first17=Cyril|last18=Martin|first18=Vance|last19=Crist|first19=Eileen|last20=Sechrest|first20=Wes|last21=Price|first21=Lori|last22=Baillie|first22=Jonathan E. M.|last23=Weeden|first23=Don|last24=Suckling|first24=Kierán|last25=Davis|first25=Crystal|last26=Sizer|first26=Nigel|last27=Moore|first27=Rebecca|last28=Thau|first28=David|last29=Birch|first29=Tanya|last30=Potapov|first30=Peter|last31=Turubanova|first31=Svetlana|last32=Tyukavina|first32=Alexandra|last33=de Souza|first33=Nadia|last34=Pintea|first34=Lilian|last35=Brito|first35=José C.|last36=Llewellyn|first36=Othman A.|last37=Miller|first37=Anthony G.|last38=Patzelt|first38=Annette|last39=Ghazanfar|first39=Shahina A.|last40=Timberlake|first40=Jonathan|last41=Klöser|first41=Heinz|last42=Shennan-Farpón|first42=Yara|last43=Kindt|first43=Roeland|last44=Lillesø|first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow|last45=van Breugel|first45=Paulo|last46=Graudal|first46=Lars|last47=Voge|first47=Maianna|last48=Al-Shammari|first48=Khalaf F.|last49=Saleem|first49=Muhammad|display-authors=1|title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm|journal=BioScience|volume=67|issue=6|year=2017|pages=534–545|issn=0006-3568|doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014|pmid=28608869|pmc=5451287|doi-access=free}}</ref> As the altitude changes, the vegetation associations and animal communities are forming height levels ([[oak]], [[beech]], [[spruce]], [[scrub pine]], [[alpine meadows]] and [[subsoil]]). Forests cover 44% of the territory of Slovakia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tasr.sk/|title=Tlačová agentúra Slovenskej republiky - TASR.sk|website=www.tasr.sk|access-date=28 September 2019}}</ref> The country had a 2019 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 4.34/10, ranking it 129th globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|display-authors=1|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity - Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057|doi-access=free}}</ref> In terms of forest stands, 60% are [[broadleaf trees]] and 40% are [[coniferous trees]]. The occurrence of animal species is strongly connected to the appropriate types of plant associations and biotopes.<ref name=":0"/>

Over 4,000 species of fungi have been recorded from Slovakia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cybertruffle.org.uk/robigalia/eng |title=Cybertruffle's Robigalia. Observations of fungi and their associated organisms |access-date=8 December 2012}}</ref><ref>Pavel Lizoň & Kamila Bacigálová, ''Huby – Fungi'' in F. Hindák [ed.] Checklist of Non-vascular and Vascular Plants of Slovakia (Bratislava, 1998), pp. 102–227.</ref> Of these, nearly 1,500 are [[lichen]]-forming species.<ref>Ivan Pišút, ''Lichenizované Huby (Lišajníky) – Lichen-forming Fungi (Lichens)'' in F. Hindák [ed.] Checklist of Non-vascular and Vascular Plants of Slovakia (Bratislava, 1998), pp. 229–295.</ref> Some of these fungi are undoubtedly endemic, but not enough is known to say how many. Of the lichen-forming species, about 40% have been classified as threatened in some way. About 7% are apparently extinct, 9% endangered, 17% vulnerable, and 7% rare. The conservation status of non-lichen-forming fungi in Slovakia is not well documented, but there is a red list for its larger fungi.<ref>Pavel Lizoň, ''Threatened macrofungi in Slovakia'' Biologia (Bratislava) 50: 9–12(1995).</ref>

==Lakes==
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a location to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦---> 
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order ♦♦♦--->
*[[:Category:Lakes of Slovakia|Lakes of Slovakia]]
*[[Baňur]]
*[[Hlboké (lake)|Hlboké]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}{{CIA World Factbook}}{{commons category|Geography of Slovakia}}
{{Slovakia topics}}
{{Geography of Europe}}
{{Danube}}

[[Category:Geography of Slovakia| ]]