Acta Geoturistica vol. 5 (2014), nr. 1, 41-46
Sink Šturec in Kremnica
1 1 1 LADISLAV HVIZDÁK , MÁRIO MOLOKÁČ , SLAVOMÍR DREVKO and JANA 1 HVIZDÁKOVÁ
1 Institute of Geotourism, Technical University in Košice, Letná 9, 042 00 Košice, Slovakia (E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected])
ABSTRACT Geotourism, as a modern type of tourism, is partly a variety of congitive tourism. Recognition of geological objects and processes is a job for professionals but can be also attractive for non-professionals just interested in geology, in the Earth structure and in various processes active at the Earth’s surface. Relief and landscape belong to the most attractive features of natural environment. Someone, who admires the natural beauty of the landscape not always knows how particular landforms were formed. At the end of the paper we briefly introduce the possibility of using the Šturec sink as geotouristic object. This place has all the prerequisites to become a top destination for geotourism.
Keywords: Kremnica, geoturourism, sinkhole, pings, Šturc, gold, mint
INTRODUCTION in the village Slovinky and Rudňany deals Juliana Krokusová. (Krokusová, 2005; At present, tourism is an important area of Krokusová & Čech, 2007). Research of national economy of developed countries in pseudomontaneous anthropogenic relief the world, which contributes to increasing shapes utilizes the same scientific the standard of living and gradually methodology that applies to geomorpho- becomes an integral part of consumption logy or anthropogenic geomorphology. A (Kršák et al., 2011). Geotourism, as a detailed and comprehensive overview of the modern type of tourism, is partly a variety scientific methodology for the study of of congitive tourism (Różycki, P., 2010). anthropogenic geomorphology with parti- Conclusions of montane landforms research cular focus on montaneous anthropogenic are currently important and often geomorphology was presented in a separate irreplaceable use in an increasingly growing monograph written by the collective of of geotourism (Hronček et al., 2011). Study authors together with P. Rybár and K. Weis addresses the issue of sinkhole (Coratza et (Hronček et al., 2011). al., 2012) which shows the geosite assessment procedure and discusses its outputs, according to which 6 out of the 17 SHORT HISTORY OF KREMNICA investigated sinkholes can be considered as geosites of geomorphological interest Kremnica was among the major mining (geomorphosites). The emphasis on towns of the world during the Middle Ages geoconservation, due to the predominantly and in Modern Times due to the abundant karstic characteristics of the studied gold ore deposits in the Kremnica landscape give the study (Martín-Duque et Mountains. However, the first evidence of al., 2012). Analysis of the spatial sub-surface mining activities comes from distribution anthropogenic forms of mining the 9th century. In the 13th century the
41 Acta Geoturistica vol. 5 (2014), nr. 1, 41-46 inhabitants of this area were affected by the The steady annual production of gold and invasion of the Mongols. Following that silver guaranteed the prosperous difficult period, Hungarian kings invited development of the town. In the 15th new colonists from Germany to settle in the century Kremnica was the second most region to help replenish the decimated important city in the Kingdom of Hungary. population. They went on to restore the The town was continuously being granted mining activities in the town. The first new privileges and the deputies of the town written reference to the town dates back to occupied the second place in the Hungarian 1328, when it was granted royal town Diet (the first place was reserved for the privileges by King Charles I of Hungary. representatives of Buda, the capital of the The town's mint was already in existence Kingdom). Gold mining and coin at the time of the granting of royal production in Kremnica culminated in the privileges. Starting in 1335 the mint 14th and 15th centuries. As one of the most produced golden florins and later the important centers of Protestant Reformation famous "Kremnica ducats", which were in the country, the town belonged to the used as an international means of payment Protestant "League of Seven Mining as a result of their consistently high purity Towns" together with Banská Belá, Banská of gold. It was the most important mint, and Bystrica, Banská Štiavnica, Ľubietová, later the only one, in the Kingdom of Nová Baňa, and Pukanec. In the 16th Hungary, in Czechoslovakia and nowadays century, the town was a major center of in Slovakia; the prosperity brought to the production of (mostly religious) medals, town led to it being given the nickname especially by Joachim Deschler. At the "Golden Kremnica". In 1331, Kremnica same time however, the miners had to dig became the seat of the Chamber Count deeper and deeper to reach new deposits (Kammergraf) who was the head of the and the mining conditions deteriorated most important mining and minting because of underground water in the shafts. chamber of the Kingdom of Hungary. The The cost of mining increased and the Count administered all the mines and mints mining was becoming less profitable. The in twelve counties of the kingdom in the last gold was extracted in Kremnica in Middle Ages. At the end of the 14th 1970, at which time all the mines were century, Kremnica became the capital of the closed (Factualworld, 2014). mining towns in central Upper Hungary. Kremnica lies at an altitude of 564 meters
Fig. 1 Kremnica and Kremnické vrchy Mts.
42 Acta Geoturistica vol. 5 (2014), nr. 1, 41-46
(1,850 ft) above sea level and covers an subsidence phenomena in mining areas. It area of 43.136 square kilometers (16.7 sq. was formed by the action of gravity in the mi). It is located in the Kremnica montane massif basement. Subsidence, Mountains on the brook Kremnický potok, respectively decreasing into the rock mass which is a tributary of the Hron River. It is underground caverns, accompanied by the located around 20 kilometers (12 mi) west formation of a concave forms in the of Banská Bystrica (by line), 45 kilometers overburden excavation mining areas, are (28 mi) south of Martin and around 175 mainly in the coal fields (Hronček et al., kilometers (109 mi) from Bratislava. 2011). The castle built in the 13th through 15th centuries towers over the town. In the first half of the 14th century, it became the ŠTUREC SINK HISTORY residence of the Chamber Count. The town was immediately fortified with a double A sinkhole, also known as a sink-hole, wall containing several bastions and towers. sink, swallow hole, shakehole, swallet or The castle represents a unique example of a doline, is a depression or hole in the ground very well preserved fortification system in caused by some form of collapse of the Central Europe. In the 14th century, it surface layer. Sinkholes may vary in size developed into a multifunctional complex from 1 to 600 m both in diameter and of buildings and thus became the centre of depth, and vary in form from soil-lined local administration, religious life, and bowls to bedrock-edged chasms. Sinkholes defense. At the end of the 15th century, the may be formed gradually or suddenly, and Chamber Count moved to a newly built are found worldwide. The different terms house with a unique diamond vault. for sinkholes are often used Thereafter the residence of the Count in the interchangeably. In urban settings in castle was converted into the St. Catherine's particular, sinkholes may owe their Church. development to human activity as much as Other sites of interest also include the anything else. The following human actions Museum of Coins and Medals, the Museum can also cause sinkholes: of Skiing and a historical main square with a monumental Baroque plague column. The Drilling and vibrations, Gothic Church of St. Catherine hosts the Mining, popular European Organ Festival. A 20-km Changes in weight, long aqueduct, built in the 15th century, is Lots of foot or vehicle traffic, still working, supplying three hydroelectric Heavy increase in water flow, power plants (one of them located 245 m formation of a pond or body of below the ground). Forested mountains water, or broken pipes, among other around the town offer plenty of things. opportunities for hiking and cross-country skiing. The geographical centre of Europe is Sinkholes may also form in places where claimed to be in the nearby village of water flows regularly, such as a storm Krahule. drain, or when water sources are diverted or One category of shapes, incurred by cut off, especially by pumping out indirect anthropogenic geomorphological groundwater. A broken pipe can contribute processes, are anthropogenic declines, to sinkhole development by flooding and depression shapes, shifts (with deleveling weakening the soil, but it can also provide and folding), stepped terrain deformation, an outlet for the dirt and rock that's cracks and pitfalls. The most important supposed to surround pipes. After enough parts of this group were undermined material falls into pipes and is transported
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Fig. 2 Sink Šturec (source: Google Earth) away, the surrounding earth becomes tunnel-called Main Hereditary Tunnel or destabilized, contributing to sinkhole The tunnel of Emperor Ferdinand was formation, sewage or water spills, or other designed in 1821, the beginning of the disasters (Silverman, J., 2008). excavation was in 1841. It was excavated Šturec sink, called also Lapser, or in by discontinuous modern technology in the German called der Sturz. Natural sinkhole formation is related to tectonic processes in the distant past. Two overburden veins, called Schrämenová and Main, are associated in Šturc, below of them are veins Schindler and Kirchberg. Northern (80 meters high) wall of the silk can be seen from afar. Gold mining in Šturc is confirmed in the document from 1385 which is the first written evidence of the hereditary tunnels as well as mining in Slovakia. The Upper Hereditary Tunnel is the oldest tunnel in Šturc. It is 4,280 meters long and it was closed in 1385. The duration of excavation using a hammer and handcuff was not more than 22 meters per year. In this fact, Kremnica had to be established for several centuries before 1328, when it obtained town privileges. Since 1519th, the second tunnel called Deep Hereditary Tunnel was excavated 94 years long. Its length is about 7000 meters and it was excavated approximately 102 m below the Upper Hereditary Tunnel. The third Fig. 3 Memorial to all miners (photo: Ján Filanda)
44 Acta Geoturistica vol. 5 (2014), nr. 1, 41-46 length of 15,481 meters, made available Kremnica is dated to 14 century until the Kremnica major mining field in 1909 and mid-15th century. Gradually, there is a completed in 1931 (Kremnica, 2014). decline in mining activities both mined rich Šturec sink, isolated in neighboring deposits or flooding adits. Decline of mines countries, length of approximately 700 m, continued in the 16th century. After 1918 width 250 m, max. depth of 170 meters. the mine assumed by the State. The Northern wall of the sink is 80 meters high worsening economic situation decline in and is visible from afar. This sink came gold prices on the world market has collapsed section of mining works in the resulted in abandonment of mining gold in earthquake in 1443rd In the accident, killed 1972 (Geocaching, 2011). about 500 miners (Kremnica, 2014). The initiation of mining activities Sturc only assume, because in terms of geology it CONCLUSION could be only bare vein structure containing gold. Because of weather conditions it Travel and recreation are nowadays mostly eroded and rocks for release the small linked to cultural and historical aspects, pieces of gold, which water carry away and civilization’s heritage elements, natural settled to the bottom of the creek. Space of elements and leisure infrastructures. Šturec today had at that time a different However, geomorphology is rarely form than how we see it today. First gold considered as a major tourist element of seekers acquire gold panning in the creek attraction. Tourism development in silt around the year 800. Creek led them to Kremnica has grown to be one of the most vein structures, the primary source of gold. important economic activities in region. They started to exploit it with caving, then Tourism in Kremnica is also linked to from the exposed veins and then began to outstanding cultural assets and to the lead the shafts and tunnels. It is estimated pristine rural and natural environment. The that gold mining in Šturec started already latter is well-preserved and widespread before 1000, but the golden age of especially in Kremnica. The ever-growing development and mining and the city itself consolidation of this kind of tourism
Fig. 4 Sink Šturec photo: Ján Krošlák
45 Acta Geoturistica vol. 5 (2014), nr. 1, 41-46 focused on environmental elements implies Factualworld (2014) Factualworld, Get Knowledge, an important challenge: the development of Spread Knowledge!, 22. Mar 2014,
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