ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Environmental Burdens in Central Spiš Region,
Slovakia
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Department of Geography, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Presov, Slovakia
Submission date: 2026-02-18
Final revision date: 2026-05-28
Acceptance date: 2026-07-12
Online publication date: 2026-08-11
Corresponding author
Matúš Maxin
Department of Geography, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Presov in Presov, Ul. 17. novembra, 1, Presov, Slovak Republic
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ABSTRACT
Anthropogenic geomorphology focuses on the study of man-made landforms and the processes
that contributed to their creation. It also examines the processes that impact these relief forms in
the landscape after the activities that formed them have ceased. The original natural structure of the
landscape was significantly shaped by human activities. The Central Spiš region has suffered significant
damage due to mining and industrial activities. Following the decline of mining, the abandoned mining
and industrial sites in this area were left to the natural processes of recovery. However, natural forces
have not been enough for this, and so the region has remained without a chance to attract investors
and achieve ecological stability. Localities and objects related to mining and industrial activity today
represent environmental burdens in the original natural landscape. They need to be eliminated as
soon as possible for the greening of the landscape and the health of its inhabitants. The main research
problem is the unknown state of abandoned anthropogenic landforms, their unknown composition, and
the lack of information for landscape management with the aim of restoration. The aim is to obtain
detailed information about the opening and dimensions of the largest anthropogenic landforms in the
region, their heavy metal content, and the potential danger they may pose. In conclusion, we present
the possibilities of environmental protection. The studied anthropogenic landforms have proven to
be significantly different and require a differentiated approach to solving the issue of restoration
of a man-made landscape.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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