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If you are fascinated in visiting a country with a wealthy history, distinctive traditions, lively cities, notable architecture and a wealth of opportunities for outdoor adventures, Slovakia may be the ideal destination for your next tour. With many magical castles, mountain peaks, and tasty food, Slovakia offers an off the beaten track tourist experience that will both surprise and delight visitors. Almost an alternate realm, Slovakia's less-visited east is spotted with picturesque churches. Within its national parks are panoramas battle-scarred by the clash of river and stone. Visitors can enjoy fortresses, hiking and beer-sloshing merriment – all in the space of a long weekend.
There's a dive site concealed in the heart of Slovakia that boasts the exquisiteness of the gems it produces. As it is a land locked country, diving is undertaken in lakes, where in winter ice diving takes place. The opal mines are located in eastern Slovakia near the city of Prešov, in the district of Červenica. Seventeen levels of tunnels, shafts and adits stretching more than 13 miles were manually excavated in the volcanic hills, some down to a depth of more than 150 yards. In 1922, the five lowest levels were flooded. The area today is a protected region of the country, and the mine itself is preserved for its mineral deposits.