Prielom Hornádu, Canyon and national nature reserve in Spišská Nová Ves District, Slovakia.
Prielom Hornádu is a canyon with steep limestone walls that cuts through roughly 16 kilometers of mountains in Slovakia, forming a narrow river valley. The Hornád River flows through the bottom of this rock formation, shaping the landscape over many centuries.
The canyon has long attracted people seeking to explore it, but only from the 1970s onward were chains, metal steps, and bridges installed to make the route safer. These installations opened the path to more visitors and families.
The path passes near the ruins of a medieval monastery that monks once built in a forest clearing high in the mountains. The site shows how people chose to live in this remote and difficult landscape, far from towns and cities.
The trail involves some physical effort and crosses rocky sections with chains and ladders, so you will need good hiking boots and a head for heights. Plan to spend several hours on the route, so start early and bring weather-resistant clothing.
On very cold winter days, large bluish ice formations grow along the rock walls, looking like frozen waterfalls against the sky. These temporary ice sculptures form where water seeps from the stone and freezes immediately in the cold air.
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