State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic Slovak Caves Administration
Štátna ochrana prírody
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Cave protection

In terms of the act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic no. 543/2002 on Nature and Landscape Protection, every cave in Slovakia represents natural monument. The 13 show caves have an important place among the educational localities. They represent important geomorfological phenomena with rich and special flowstone, aragonite or ice fill, moreover some of them are significant archaeological and cultural localities. Since they are the most attacked caves by man, they require a special protection. Their sustainable use resides in observation of visitors’ influence on natural environment of caves, including its regulation. All show caves are designated national nature monuments.

The Ochtinská Aragonite Cave, Domica Cave, Gombasecká Cave and Jasovská Cave are inscribed on the World Natural Heritage List since 1995 within the „Caves of the Slovak and Aggtelek Karst“ site, which was extended by the Dobšinská Ice Cave in November 2000. The protection and operation of show caves in the Slovak Republic is carried out by the Slovak Caves Administration in Liptovský  Mikuláš, as a specialized organization of nature protection under the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic.

Cave cleaning

Big effort is given to annual waste removal from caves, which was thrown here during the last decades and also at present. The serious pollution is from communal and many times toxic waste and remains after agricultural activities.

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Closing the caves

The Slovak Caves Administration secures the closures of the most threatened and valuable caves. The priority is according to the level of attacking, threatening and occurrence of natural, cultural and historical values in caves.

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Speleological guard service

The caves require regular care. The karst and cave territories are regularly checked by the speleological guard service – the rangers specialized for cave protection control the cave ecosystems and gates closing the threatened caves.

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Cave protection zones

Cave protection zone on the surface over the cave, which is or can be threatened by various activities, are declared by the territorially appropriate regional office for the environment according to § 24 section 8 of the act no. 543/2002 of the Legal Codes on nature and landscape protection on the basis of submitted project

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News

Demänovská jaskyňa slobody - veľký okruh mimo prevádzky / long tour closed

Vážení návštevníci, 

prevádzkovanie veľkého okruhu v Demänovskej jaskyni slobody je dočasne pozastavené kvôli prebiehajúcim rekonštrukčným prácam na priľahlých úsekoch jaskyne. Predpokladané znovuotvorenie je v druhej polovici roka 2024. Ospravedlňujeme sa za prípadné nepríjemnosti.

Dear visitors,

operation of the long tour in the Demänovska Cave of Liberty is temporarily suspended due to ongoing reconstruction work in adjacent cave parts. We assume reopening in the second half of the year 2024. We apologize for any inconvenience.

15. vedecká konferencia: "Výskum, využívanie a ochrana jaskýň" / 15th scientific conference "Research, utilization and protection of caves"

Konanie: 24.- 26. september 2024. Bližšie informácie o tomto podujatí nájdete na odkaze.

The conference will be held from September 24 to 26, 2024 in Liptovský Mikuláš. More on the link.

Underground boat trip in Domica Cave not available.

Due to adverse conditions, the boat trip in Domica Cave is not available. The short tour is available. Thank you for understanding

Cave visit with small children

Dear visitors, due to increased visitation of parents with very small children (circa up to 3 - 4 years of age), we would like to kindly ask you to have a rucksack baby carrier with you for visiting the more demanding caves in given time. This recommendation concerns all caves but the most concerned are the following ones: Demänovská Cave of Liberty, Belianska Cave, Dobšinská Ice Cave, Demänovská Ice Cave, Harmanecká Cave. We also ask you to consider visiting the cave with your crying child, which could disturb the other visitors. Thank you for understanding and we wish you a nice experience.

Cave tour guides for download

Dear visitors, cave tour guides are available for download

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Správa jeskyní České republikyInternational Year of Caves and KarstHabakukyZajo