|
NATURAL PARKS Notranjska regional park lies on territory of municipality Cerknica and measures something more than 222 km2. It was founded in 2002, with intention to protect and preserve natural and cultural values in the area. It is distinguished by a high degree of preservation of natural habitats, numerous natural monuments, exceptional diversity of living creatures and discernible cultural landscape. Diversity and preservation of natural habitats of plants and animal world is a reason that large share of the park is included in the European network of protected areas Natura 2000, with a binding regime of nature protection in the European Union. FOREST COMPLEX Vast forests on the Javornik–Snežnik massive are one of the largest dense forest complexes in middle Europe. Their dimension and preservation are assuring numerous animal and plant species a favourable habitat among them are also all three kinds of our large beasts: brown bear, wolf and lynx. Beside forest, also dry karst turfs cover large surface, which belongs among the richest vegetation area in Europe. On this extensive range, biological diversity is among the richest in Slovenia, which is why it was selected as Natura 2000 area. UNDERGROUND SIGHTS Postojna cave system is the largest known cave system in Slovenia. Many longer caves can be found in the world, however visit of a cave as the one in Postojna deserves all attention because of diversity of its shapes, extensive caves, numerous stalactites and stalagmites and water features. It is also important that every visitor can see majority of these different shapes and features, not only a caver with special caving equipment. Namely, Postojna cave is a horizontal cave, with a neat tourist path in major parts, which is why visit of the cave is not a problem to almost anyone.
The Planinska cave is the longest water cave in Slovenia. Entrance to the cave is in a valley under a 65 m highly rock on south-western part of Planinsko polje.. 500 m from the entrance is confluence of Pivka river and Raka river, which is the largest one in Europe. The length of the cave is 6.656 m.
The Križna cave is a world known karst cave. Its particularity are underground lakes with 47 barriers made of Siga (calcareous sinter?) and excavation site with cave bear bones. The waters run from southern edge of the Bloke plateau towards the eastern fringe of Cerknica field.
Škocjan caves are the most important underground phenomenon in Karst and in Slovenia. They are among the most important caves in the world. Underground canyon of the Reka river is more than 2 km long, somewhere more than 140 m high and up to 120 m wide. That makes it an exception in the world.
|