Acta Montanistica Slovaca Ročník 12 (2007), číslo 4, 334-340 Corelations between tourism and environmental load in the „Slovak Paradise – Slovenský Raj“, E.Slovakia. Janka Jablonská 1 , Gejza M. Timčák 1 and Jaroslav Špičuk 2 Korelácia medzi turizmom a zaťažením prostredia v Slovenskom Raji na Východnom Slovensku Tourism – and specially nature tourism - is an area, where the interaction between the tourists and environment is very intensive. Tourists are sensitive to the beauty and purity of the environment, but at the same time, the environmental impact of their presence in nature is marked. In order to maintain the beauty and purity of the environment a number of environmental threats are to be alleviated. Further, it seems to be necessary to decrease/regulate the number of tourists, or a set of costly cleaning and revitalising operations are to be implemented. The paper analyses the data available on the tourism related load of one of the most beautiful areas in Slovakia – the „Slovak paradise“, located in E. Slovakia. Key word: nature tourism, environment, number of tourists, service Introduction The management of tourism related human and material flow is a complex task. Tourists are to be transported, fed, lodged and entertained. It was shown (http://www.czechtourism ) that 48 % of holiday travellers prefer a travel by car, 43 % by plane. This volume of transport alone generates a huge pollution. To give an example, we can take the CO 2 emission rate related to travel. Thus if one takes a taxi from central London to Heathrow airport, the vehicle will emit roughly seven kilograms of carbon dioxide. For a short haul return flight from London to Frankfurt, a distance of 1,300 kilometres, one needs two trees to absorb the 250 kilos of carbon dioxide which is one’s share of the carbon dioxide produced. The rule of thumb is that 4.4 trees are required for every tonne of carbon dioxide one emits when travelling 3 (cf. cnn.com). Slovenský Raj - “Slovak paradise” is a region situated SW from the city of Spišská Nová Ves (Iglau) (Fig. 1,2). It is one of the nine National Parks, and enjoys legal protection since 1964. It is covered mostly by coniferous woods, and is full of picturesque, wild canyons and creeks flowing to river Hornad. The area is built of carbonate rocks and thus contains also a number of caves. It has a unique flora and an attractive spectrum of wild animals (including brown bears and chamois that were imported from the Tatra Mts.). Its total area is 13 011 ha. Its highest peaks are Havrania skala (1153 m) and Veľká Knola (1266 m). The average height of the peaks, plateaus and ridges is 800-1100 m. The most frequented tourist trails are located in narrow canyons that increase the impact of tourism on the environment. The tourism related activities contribute to the deterioration of the environmental system by traffic related pollution, by soil erosion along the tourist trails, aesthetic damage (litter, erosion, damage to the flora) and by increased environmental load related to lodging and catering. The impact of tourism on the fauna 4 is also said to be significant by the management of the National Park, but here we did not have data that could be evaluated. Recently, a foreign investor purchased the decommissioned uranium mines with mineable uranium ore deposits that are located near Novoveská Huta. This is in the National park buffer zone and thus in the future, mining could again become a significant source of pollution through blast related shocks, noise, dust, dumps, damage to the vegetation, chemical pollution, transport of ore, etc. Tourists usually get to the Slovenský Raj through the Sp.N.Ves, Hrabušice or Dobšiná. There they usually spend the commencing day of stay. The Slovenský Raj area has a number of summer and winter sports centres. 1 doc. Ing. Jana Jablonská, PhD., doc. Ing. Gejza M. Timčák, PhD., Geotourism Dept., FBERG, Technical University, Letná 9, Košice, jana.jablonska@tuke.sk 2 RNDr. Jaroslav Špičuk, Office of the director, Slovenský Raj National Park, Sp.N. Ves 3 4.4 trees because only one out of every four trees survives (cf. cnn.com). 4 Migration of animals due to noise and disturbance (Recenzovaná a revidovaná verzia dodaná 28. 12. 2007) 334