Badínsky prales, Protected forest reserve in Banská Bystrica district, Slovakia.
Badínsky prales is a protected forest reserve in the Kremnické mountains with fir and beech trees covering about 30 hectares in the southeastern section. The reserve is maintained as a reference area for undisturbed woodland ecosystems of the region.
The forest received protection in 1913, making it one of the earliest conservation areas in Slovakia. It became a national nature reserve in 1994 and continues to hold this designation.
The forest represents what original Carpathian woodlands looked like before human changes, with ancient firs and beeches growing undisturbed for centuries. Visitors experience a landscape shaped by natural processes rather than human management.
Access is only possible through organized guided tours arranged by forest management or scientific institutions, as this is a strictly protected area. Visitors should book in advance and wear sturdy footwear, as trails pass through undisturbed woodland.
Many trees here are between 200 and 400 years old and provide habitat for rare species like the alpine longhorn beetle. These ancient stands are uncommon in Europe and make the reserve a living laboratory for forest research.
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