Polana Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 1990, in Slovakia. The Polana Biosphere Reserve is situated in central Slovakia within the Western Carpathians. It is a mountain landscape with diverse topography that reflects a complex geological history of volcanic activity, faulting and erosion. The vegetation is characterised by the common occurrence of both thermophilous and mountain plant species, reflecting changes in elevation, alternating rock and soil types, the influence of slope aspect, and the region’s outlying position south of the main West Carpathians arc.