Soil of volcanic regions in Slovakia

Abstract

Mountains of volcanic origin are rather wide-spread in Slovakia, covering about 10% of the territory. Regions of volcanic origin occur primarily as volcanic mountains, which are mainly built by lava flows and pyroclastic materials, but also as volcanic intrusions in rocks of different origin, mainly as lava residues. Slovakian volcanic mountains can be divided into 4 main volcanic regions (Figure 1): 1. Middle-Slovakian volcanic region: stratovolcanoes of Štiavnické vrchy Mountains and Kremnické vrchy Mountains, stratovolcanic complexes of Javorie Mountains and Pol'ana Mountains and finally volcanic complexes of Krupinská planina Mountains, Pohronský Inovec Mountains, Vtáčnik Mountains and Ostrôžky Mountains. 2. South-Slovakian volcanic region: Cerová vrchovina Mountains and Burda Mountains, which genetically represent the part of Börzsöny Mountains in Hungary. 3. East-Slovakian volcanic region: Slánske vrchy Mountains, Vihorlat Mountains and Zemplínske vrchy Mountains. 4. Volcanic intrusions in the Slovenské rudohorie Mountains (especially Veporské vrchy Mountains and Čierna hora Mountains). (Table presented) The aerial extent of each of the volcanic regions is summarised by Table 1. There are also some small intrusions of volcanic material in the Slovenské rudohorie Mountains, the Čierna hora Mountains, and in the Veporské vrchy Mountains. Volcanic rocks and pyroclastic material create the substrate for various soils including soils with andic properties. Most of the volcanic regions are under forest. Only the lowest mountains, such as Cerová vrchovina, Ostôžky, Krup inská planina and Zemplínske vrchy Mountains are mostly used for agriculture. (Figure presented). © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.