Fauna and flora

By the geographical division of flora along Slovakia, the vegetative area around Piešťany belongs into the part of north Carpathian flora. There are two major types of trees – deciduous and coniferous. On south slopes of Carpathian Mountains grow dry deciduous oak woods with large variety of small plants – flowers and grasses. Near river Váh grow willows, poplars and alders. Very important is also water basin Sĺňava, which is officially named to be protected study area because there grow few plants in danger of extinction. E.g. Centaurium pulchellum, Linum austriacum, Sagittaria sagittifolia, Schrophularia umbrosa – which are also registered in list of all rare and endangered plants. The fauna around Piešťany is highly representated by animals typical for steppes and forest-steppes. In the basin, on the edges of forests live wild rabbits, hares, pheasants, partridges (because of high consumption of pesticides is their number decreasing). Feeded and hunted animals are mainly – in forests – stags, roebucks, boars, mufflons, sometimes wild cats or foxes. Parks and park-forests in Piešťany have very good conditions for life of birds. Ornithologists recorded 70 species of birds in observed areas from year 1962. For tourists are very attractive swans and gulls. Water basin Sĺňava became ,short time after it had been finished, very good place for life of birds that live near the water. It is possible to see here (during the migratory time of birds) gooses (Anser albifrons), wild ducks (Anser anser), cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo), mute swans (Cygnus olor). Other birds that Live here are grey heron (Ardea cinerea), Gallinula chloropus, little grebes (Podiceps caspicus) or Fullica atra. From the family of Laridae occur in Sĺňava mainly gulls (Larus), common terns (Sterna hirundo) and also Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia). At the end of summer is Sĺňava an ideal place for nests of ducks. 3.3 River Váh

3.3.1. Hydro-geographical information

River Váh is the biggest east-side tributary of river Danube. It’s length from the place where it spreads out of mountain to the mouth is 436 km. Váh is formed from the tributary of White Váh which springs under the mountain Kriváň, in height about 2026 meters above the sea level and the second tributary which is called Black Váh (springs under mountain Kráľova hoľa – 1670 m a.s.l.) Both there streams join near city Kráľova Lehota in height 665 m a.s.l. Váh flows through Piešťany from north to south, then it flows forward to Sereď and in Komárno it joins Danube in altitude 106 m.