Low Tatras
The Low Tatras national park spreads out over an area of 81,100 ha and its buffer zone covers an area of 12,400 ha. It straddles the districts of Banská Bystrica, Brezno, Liptovsky´ Mikulás, Poprad and Ruzomberok and its main mountain ridge, running from west to east, is approximately 100 km long. The western part of this national park is created by Dumbierske Tatry with its highest peak, Dumbier, at 2043 m; the eastern part by the Králova Hola mountain at 1948 m. The massif of Králova Hola is the source of four major Slovak rivers – the Hron, Váh, Hornád and Hnilec. The central and southern parts of the Low Tatras are composed of granite and gneiss; in the north are limestone and dolomite, rich in karst. The northern slopes are steep with rocky relief and glacial kettles. In the course of thousands of years waters have gouged out the whole underground world here. In the Low Tatras the following caves are all open to the public: Demänovská stalactical cave Slobody, Demänovská ladová cave, Bystrianska cave, Deat bats cave  and Vazecká cave. The longest cave is Demänovská stalactical cave Slobody with a 23-km long labyrinth. The biggest tarn in the park is Vrbické pleso in the valley of Demänovská dolina. Of the mineral waters located in this area, the most famous are at the Korytnica spa near Donovaly and thermal springs in Liptovsky´ Ján. The flora and fauna of the region are interesting mainly for their diversity. The symbol of this national park is the brown bear.

The Low Tatras offer excellent conditions for sports activities and relaxation. Among the most interesting and best-equipped tourist resorts are those Jasná, Bystrá dolina, Tále and Certovica. One of the biggest and most popular winter sports centres, Jasná, has excellent terrain for downhill skiing while lovers of ski-trekking, snowboarding and other ‘adrenalin’ sports will all feel at home here, too.
Golfers will enjoy the 18-hole golf course Gray Bear near Tále, which is the first championship golf course in Slovakia. In winter it turns into a downhill and cross-country skiing resort.

The Low Tatras have a dense network of hiking trails of various degrees of difficulty while the northern slopes of Mt. Dumbier, Mt. Machnaté, Mt. Siná and Mt. Bystrá are all popular places for climbers. The park’s cycling routes include the circuit around the Liptovská Mara reservoir, the Demänovská dolina valley, the loop around the Dolny´ Liptov region, a 73-km circuit around the region of Horny´ Liptov along the valley of the river Cierny Váh as far as the High Tatras to the village of Podbanské, and a mountain route along the ridge of the Low Tatras.

The nearby dam of Liptovská Mara offers a wide range of water activities while in the town of Liptovský Mikuláš there is an artificial canal with Olympic parameters for water slalom.

After a long day’s hiking, visitors of the national park can unwind at the thermal bathing complex, with its six swimming pools, in Besenová, or by one of the natural or indoor swimming pools in Liptovsky´ Ján. The latest attraction of the region is undoubtedly the newly built aquapark, Tatralandia, in Liptovsky´ Mikulásˇ which offers a wide choice of activities ranging from bathing, massages, the ‘vital world’ programme to the newly open Wild West City.

Lovers of ‘adrenalin’ sports will also find something for themselves here. Marvellous terrain in Jasná, Cˇertovica, Myto pod Dumbierom and Sachticky in the neighbouring  hills named Starohorské vrchy are all suitable for paragliding. Scenic and sports flights are offered and provided by air-clubs at the sports airports in the towns Martin and Ruzomberok.