Ružbašské krátery
In the village of Vyšné Ružbachy, you can find Kráter, the largest travertine lake in our country. It is part of the Ružbašské krátery, where you will find four large and several smaller craters. These were formed by the collapse of travertine mounds around a healing mineral spring. They are located at an altitude of 620 m above sea level on the grounds of Kúpele Vyšné Ružbachy, near Spišská Magura, in the Stará Ľubovňa district.
The aforementioned Kráter lake has a diameter of approximately 20 m, an almost circular shape, a maximum depth of 3 m, all spanning a water surface area of 300 m². As the only one among the Ružbašské krátery, it is filled with 24 °C warm water, specifically, thermal mineral water rich in calcium. Since 1967, it has been listed among the protected natural formations of Slovakia, and swimming in it is strictly prohibited for this reason.
Another one of the local craters is Kaplnkový kráter, located near the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes. Thanks to its dimensions of 51 × 32 × 4.5 m, it ranks among the largest formations of its kind in our country. Also worth mentioning is the crater named Jama smrti. Like the others (excluding Kráter), this one is a waterless crater and is also known under the name Smerdžonka. And why such a goosebumps-inducing name? Carbon dioxide escapes from it, causing suffocation and loss of consciousness. Falling into the pit has already claimed the lives of several domestic animals belonging to local residents, as well as rodents and birds.
Many tourists bypass the craters because they do not find them interesting without water. However, that is a shame, as they certainly belong among unique natural phenomena. During your travels around Horný Spiš, make time to come and admire them. Allow yourself plenty of time for this; we recommend booking accommodation near Ružbašské krátery. You can find great tips for finding lodging on the page accommodation in Stará Ľubovňa. Enjoy your stay and do not forget to bring friends or family along. After all, wandering through nature brings the best experiences precisely when you do not embark on them alone.
