It consists of a complex of huge karst plains and plateaus.
On 1 March 2002 Slovak Karst National Park was declared.
It is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and part of it forms UNESCO World Heritage Site Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst.
Important rivers are the Slaná (Sajó), the Štítnik and the Turňa.
The Slovak Karst lies in the north temperate zone and has a continental climate with four distinct seasons.