Horšianska valley

Horšianska valley

Extraordinary Horšianska valley, cut into Ipeľ heights, is a state national reserve with vegetation of forest – bush feature and abundant representation of insect, rare species of birds and reptiles, such as lizards. Its total area is 313,38 hectars. It lies in the cadastral area of Levice /Horša/, Krškany, Žemberovce, Bátovce a Drženice. The area impresses by an extraordinarily interesting geological configuration and location. The stream Sikenica, with preserved thick bank vegetation, meanders along the  300 meter wide valley bounded by steep slopes. The valley has a typical canyon – shaped feature with a 60 m altitude segmentation  between the river flood – plain and surrounding surface of Ipeľ heights. Considerable 30 m high rock walls form rocky rowers and ribs highlighting miniatures of the relief. Vulcanites are represented by both andesites and andesite – tuffs that cover floury sheets. Majority of the valley is covered by forest. Cornelian cherry, oak tree/ Quercus pubescens/, Tartarian maple, Chequer tree, Spindle tree, Euonymus verrucosa form  a remarkable part of it. The rarest remains are an intercommunity of oak – hornbeam forest with Quercus pubescens. Horšianska valley represents the largest natural reserve in Levice district, significant in terms of geomorphology and botany.

Coordinates: 48°14′49″S 18°41′59″V

Horšianska dolina