Slovak Ore Mountains

Slovak Ore Mountains
Zadiel canyon in the Slovak Karst
Highest point
Peak	Stolica
Elevation	1,476 m (4,843 ft)
Geography
Range coordinates	48°45′N 20°15′E / 48.75°N 20.25°E / 48.75; 20.25Coordinates: 48°45′N 20°15′E / 48.75°N 20.25°E / 48.75; 20.25
Parent range	Inner Western Carpathians

The Slovak Ore Mountains (Slovak: Slovenské rudohorie, Hungarian: Gömör–Szepesi-érchegység, German: Slowakisches Erzgebirge or Zips-Gemer-Erzgebirge) are an extensive mountainous region of Slovakia's Spiš and Gemer region, and in small part in northern Hungary, within the Carpathians. It is the largest mountain range in Slovakia. In the geomorphological system, the Slovak Ore Mountains belong to the Inner Western Carpathians.

The mountains are bordered by Zvolen in the west, Košice in the east, the rivers Hron and Hornád in the north, and the Juhoslovenská kotlina and Košice Basin (Košická kotlina) in the south. The region includes the Domica Cave (jaskyňa Domica), one of the biggest caves in Europe, Zádiel canyon and Krásna Hôrka Castle.

Geomorphologically, the Slovak Ore Mountains are grouped within the Inner Western Carpathians. The mountains do not have a central ridge - they consist of several independent sections, geomorphological regions:

Basic data:

Since this is a very extensive geomorphological unit, no general characterization is appropriate. The geomorphological structure is varied and has crystalline, Mesozoic and volcanic rocks.

Since time immemorial, especially in the early modern period, the mountains were, as the name suggests, heavily mined but are not any more.