Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, December 27 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Popular cave losing its ice cover
The Demänovská Ľadová Jaskyňa ice cave is losing ice. (source: SME - Ján Krošlák)
The Demänovská Ľadová Jaskyňa ice cave in the Low Tatras is one of the most visited ones in Slovakia. However, climate change has robbed it of almost all ice.
According to Slovak Cave Administration expert Pavel Bella, around 20 years ago there were more than 1000 cubic metres of ice in the cave. Now, only a fraction remains. If the current trend continues, the cave may lose all its ice.
"The shape of the underground cave spaces create a sort of a trap for cold air. When winter is more harsh, the cave walls freeze more and water seeping through the ceiling of the cave, especially in the spring from the melting snow above the cave, freezes," says Bella. She adds that in Slovakia, winters should be as harsh as possible with a lot of snow that would then melt slowly in the spring. In summer, there should be no intense rains as then the water penetrates the cave in large quantities and melts the ice.
However, climate change in recent years has resulted in Demänovská Ľadová Jaskyňa not having suitable conditions, a similar trend like in other ice caves all over the world.
In the Slovak Paradise national park, there is another ice cave called Dobšinská Ľadová Jaskyňa. With 110,000 cubic metres of ice, it belongs to the most important caves of this kind in the world. Since 2000, it has been included in the UNESCO heritage list. This cave still has more favourable conditions, but has still lost some ice.
"Ice covers a larger area, the more stable microclimate in the lower part of the cave also helps to preserve the ice. However, ice loss is occurring in the upper part of the cave," said Bella.
If you want to explore caves and caverns, read this travel guide.
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FEATURE STORY FOR WEDNESDAY
The Ukrainian ‘Master Chef’ proving herself in Bratislava
Veronika Shlendek on the cooking show MasterChef. (source: Instagram/Veronika Shlendek)
When Veronika Shlendek was growing up in Horishni Plavni, a large town on the Dnieper River in Ukraine, she always dreamed of being a chef when she was older.
But it was a long time before Shlendek, who today lives in Bratislava, fulfilled her dream. When she was working as a waitress in a cafe, its chef quit suddenly, and because the manager knew she liked to cook, offered her the job. And then she took part in the Ukrainian edition of Master Chef.
EVENTS FOR NEXT FEW DAYS
Last chance to enjoy Christmas markets
The Bratislava Christmas Market in the Hlavné Námestie square. (source: SME - Marko Erd)
This year, the Christmas market in the historical centre of Bratislava is lasting longer than usual. Although in a slightly reduced form, the city decided to hold the festive market until December 31, allowing people to enjoy the festivities more. After all, the market in the capital has made it onto the top 10 Christmas markets list of a British paper.
While you're at it, don't forget to visit the nearby Old Town Hall and climb the stairs to reach the top of the tower to see the market from above. Then take a short walk to the Jesenského tram stop next to the Slovak National Theatre and hop in the Christmas tram to take you on a scenic route through the centre and riverbank.
IN OTHER NEWS
On December 23, a 64-year-old man from Žilina called the emergency line 155 and threatened to replicate the mass shooting in Prague that took place two days prior. On Wednesday, a Žilina police investigator pressed charges against him for spreading a false alarm. A judge accepted the proposal to take the man into custody. (TASR)
Meteorologists announced that during Christmas, Slovakia experienced unusually warm weather, causing a substantial thawing of snow. In some northern regions temperatures exceeded 10 °C, while in the south temperatures were between 13 °C to 15 °C on average. Not only did the measured values match all-time records, in some locations - for example Bratislava Airport, Sliač, Trebišov - they were even surpassed, according to the Slovak Hydromoteorological Institute (SHMÚ). The thawing has resulted in the rising of water levels in several district, resulting in level 1 hydrological warnings issued on Tuesday in several districts in western and central Slovakia. Most of the warnings apply until December 27. (TASR)
The water level of the river Danube on December 25. (source: TASR)
Doctors working in Bratislava emergency rooms on this year's Christmas Eve treated 340 patients in total, who were brought in due to stomach ache, excessive alcohol intake, a bone stuck in the throat, as well as eating soup containing poisonous mushrooms. (TASR)
In an interview with the TASR newswire, Education Minister Tomáš Drucker (Hlas) said that the parameters based on which universities receive their financing will change, and will not rely solely on the number of students. The goal is to have higher quality graduates. One such parameter can be the employment rate of graduates. Changes are to be implemented next year, with the ministry discussing them intensively with universities. (TASR)
PM and Smer leader Robert Fico said that he views Police Corps ex-president and now Smer MP Tibor Gašpar as one of the most serious candidates for the post of the Slovak Intelligence Service chief. In addition to facing charges in two cases already, the latter has recently been charged again. (TASR)
After Czech Republic, Slovakia's national ice-hockey team beat Switzerland 3:0 in its second game of the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden on Wednesday. (TASR)
People enjoying snow in the Martinské Hole recreational and tourist region near the town of Martin, northern Slovakia. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR THURSDAY
Cloudy and overcast, foggy and light showers expected. Daily temperatures will be between 3 °C to 10 °C. (SHMÚ)
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