| Vršič pass | |
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Vršič Pass |
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| Elevation | 1,611 m (5,285 ft) |
| Traversed by | Ruska cesta |
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Vršič pass
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| Location | Upper Carniola, Slovenia |
| Range | Julian Alps |
Vršič (or Vršič Pass, Slovene: Prelaz Vršič, Italian: Passo della Moistrocca, German: Werschetzpass) (el. 1611 m)[1] is a high mountain pass across the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia.
The road across the pass was built for military purposes, to supply the Isonzo front of World War I. Opened in late 1915, it was originally named after archduke Eugen of Austria-Hungary. It is currently known as Ruska cesta (Russian Road), so renamed in July 2006 to honor the Russian prisoners of war who had been forced to build it. The upper elevations of the road are rendered impassable by heavy snowfall during much of winter.
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Vršič is the highest pass in Slovenia, as well as the highest in the Eastern Julian Alps. Its name is a diminutive form of the Slovene word vrh 'peak'; its Italian name was Maistrocca. It connects Upper Carniola with the Trenta Valley, rising from Kranjska Gora in a series of 50 hairpin bends and traversing the high mountains on the Slovenian-Italian-Austrian border before descending into the Soča (Isonzo) Valley.
It is considered an excellent starting point for excursions to surrounding peaks, including Mala Mojstrovka (2332 m), Velika Mojstrovka (2366 m), Planja (2453 m), Prisojnik (Prisank) (2547 m), Razor (2601 m), Šitna glava (2087 m), Slemenova Špica (1911 m), Sovna glava (1750 m), Suhi vrh (2109 m), or shorter hikes in the immediate area.
Several mountain lodges are located near the pass: the Erjavec Lodge (Erjavčeva koča; 1515 m), the Birders' Lodge (Tičarjev dom; 1620 m), Mike's Lodge (Mihov dom), the Forest Lodge (Koča na Gozdu ; 1226 m), and the Postman's Lodge (Poštarska koča); 1725 m).
Just off the main road at an elevation of around 1200 m is a remote Russian Orthodox chapel, built by the Russian POWs to commemorate their dead.
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