Established in 1984, the protected landscape area Kysuce has an area of 65,462 ha.
It lies in the north-western part of Slovakia and consists of two independent parts: western Javorníky part and eastern Beskydy part.
The western part consists of Javorníky, Turzovská highlands and Moravian - Silesian Beskydy. The eastern part consists of Kysucké Beskydy, Kysucká Highlands and Oravské Beskydy. The area of Protected Landscape (CHKO) stretches over 6 districts (Čadca, Žilina, Dolný Kubín, Bytča, Považská Bystrica, Púchov) and 2 regions (Žilinský, Trenčiansky). On the west and north-west it borders on the CHKO Beskydy (Czech Republic), on the north it borders on Žywiecki park krajobrazowy (Poland), on the east on the CHKO Horná (Upper) Orava.
From a geological point of view the CHKO Kysuce belongs to the western section of Magurský flysch that is characteristic for alternating layers of sandstone, clay-stone and conglomerate. The majority of the area is created by the inner flysch zone – Magurský Nappe. Except for Magurský Nappe, the territory includes Silesian Nappe which stretches as far as the surroundings of Klokočov, in the territory of Slovakia. The only klippen belt in the territory of the CHKO is located south of Dolná Maríková. It consists of two small klippen rocks made of Mesozoic limestone, dolomites, marl and sandstone. The geological structure of the territory influenced its hydrological conditions. Due to various levels of rock permeability, no larger amounts of underground water are accumulated in the area in spite of high rainfall, which results in low spring yields and unstable water flow levels throughout the year. The geological background was the crucial factor which influenced the creation of forests, plant and animal communities. The majority of the CHKO area is covered with forests (71%), the remaining area is made up of agricultural soil. In the past, almost the whole territory was covered in forest, in particular beech and fir-beech forests with some spruce trees in higher locations that were replaced later by fir monocultures. Since the 16th century, the Wallachian colonisation and later scattered colonisation started to modify the original forest country to an agricultural country. Meadows and pastures were created on deforested areas by long-term farming activities.
The CHKO territory is characteristic for the occurrence of temporary peat bogs and moors that have an important ecological function as marsh biotopes in the country. Some of them belong to NATURA 2000, a European network of protected areas, the aim of which is to preserve the favourable condition of biotopes of European importance and the favourable conditions of important species. The following protected plant species grow there, for example: Ostrich Fern, Willow Gentian, Martagon Lily, Club Moss, Orchis, Turkish Marsh Gladiolus, Marsh Lousewort, Marsh Helleborine, Round-leaved Sundew and other. The most popular biotopes (fragments of the original forest communities, marshes, etc.) were placed into the category of nature reservations, nature monuments and protected areas. Various other endangered species of flora and fauna live there.
The CHKO territory is the north-western habitat of the three largest beasts of prey in Slovakia: the Eurasian Lynx, Gray Wolf and Brown Bear. The European Otter lives in various water flows. The birds include: the Common Buzzard, Eurasian Pygmy Owl, Eurasian Eagle-owl, Three-toed Woodpecker, Western Capercaillie, Black Stork, Corncrake, colourful Common Kingfisher and many other species. The territory of CHKO Kysuce is characteristic for scattered urbanisation with classical architecture of dispersed settlements. Wallachian colonisation and traditional dispersed settlement urbanisation led to the current mosaic look of the land, where forests, meadows, fields and settlements with remains of preserved folk architecture randomly occur. The landscape is shaped by scattered trees. Valuable solitaires and groups of robust linden trees, elm trees, oaks and maples are characteristic for the Kopanice settlements and yards. A homogenous illustration of the original folk architecture and the restored segment of the historical narrow-gauge Historic Forest Railway can be seen in the Museum of Kysucká Village in Nová Bystrica – Vychylovka.
Sídlo Správy CHKO Kysuce:
U Tomali č. 1511, 022 01 Čadca
web: www.sopsr.sktel.: +421/041/433 56 06 – 07
fax: + 421/041/433 56 08
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