The Slovak Republic, the capital Bratislava, is situated in the Middle Europe. The state establishment is the republic. The country profile is characterised through great differences in altitude. The Middle and North Slovakia is hilly - the Carpathian arc reaches here, the traffic arteries are of less dense, the South and East Slovakia have lowland character and create important agricultural area of the Slovakia, with well equipped traffic network. The area is situated in the moderate climate band, typical with alternation of four seasons. Very important is Danube river, through which is Slovakia connected with Vienna, with channel Rhine - Mohan and with ports of Black sea. The longest river is Váh (403 km). The lakes are found almost only in the mountains. An unique phenomena is the travertine lake Kráter in Vyšné Ružbachy. To the artificial water basins belong fish ponds, reservoirs which have been built for mining („tajchy“ in the Štiavnické Mountains) and reservoirs at water power plants - the largest one is the Orava reservoir, the biggest water power plant is Gabčíkovo built on the Danube river. The country has large sources of mineral water and thermal springs, of which mainly those with healing effects are used. Slovakia has totally 23 spa towns. World famous are Piešťany, Trenčianske Teplice and Bardejov. A curiosity is an artificially drilled spring at the village Herľany in the Slanské Mountains, which is unique in Europe. The area of the Slovak Republic is 49 035 km2. The lowest positioned place is the Bodrog river, 95m above sea level, and the highest positioned place is the mount Gerlach, 2655m above sea level. In the Slovakia we register 3200 caves - the largest is the Demänovská cave, the greatest stalagmite (in the world) you can find in the Krásnohorská cave - 32,7 m. Well known are the National Parks the High Tatras, the Pieniny, the Low Tatras, the Slovak Paradise, the Small Fatra. Because of its location at the crossroads of the European trade routes Slovakia plays an important role in the international transit traffic. There are cultural and natural monuments which have been registered by the UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. To them belong the urban monument reservation of Banská Štiavnica, the national cultural monument Spiš Castle and surrounding, Borders – of the Roman Empire Danube Limes, the Roman military camp (Castle) Gerulata Bratislava – Rusovce, Roman military camp (castle) Iža, the Spiš capitula and the village Žehra, the monument preservation of traditional architecture Vlkolínec and the caves of the Slovak Karst.
