Aggtelek Cave

Aggtelek Cave

The Aggtelek Cave and Slovak Karst are situated at the border between southern Slovakia and northern Hungary, covering the hilly areas of the southern Carpathian Mountains. The Aggtelek Cave was initially listed as a scenic reserve by the Hungarian Environmental and Nature Conservation Department in 1978, and was subsequently re-designated as a national park by legislation in 1985; the Slovak Karst was listed as a scenic reserve by the Slovak Ministry of Culture in 1973. Both were inscribed on UNESCO's "Man and the Biosphere Programme" in 1977 and 1979 respectively.

Aggtelek National Park covers an area of 19,708 hectares, while the Slovak Karst scenic reserve spans 36,165 hectares, but only the caves themselves are included in the "World Natural Heritage" site. The Aggtelek Cave and Slovak Karst represent the largest area of karst landscape research in Europe, with 712 caves identified to date. Many of the younger caves formed along the highland edges feature dripstones as natural decorations, among which the most striking include the world’s tallest stalagmite (32.7 meters), aragonite and tufa formations, as well as ice-filled abysses (a remarkable sight in Central Europe considering the altitude).

The Aggtelek Cave and Slovak Karst are world-renowned for their unique karst landforms and natural, biological formations, holding immeasurable value for both scientific research and artistic appreciation. Since the installation of the first steps and fences in 1806, visitors have continued to explore the Hungarian caves. Today, only three caves in Aggtelek National Park are open to the public year-round, yet they attract countless tourists year after year.

Foreign Name: Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst

Must-Visit Reason: The world’s tallest stalagmite

Continent: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region: Slovakia[Slovakia]

Province/State: Košice Region [Košice Region]