Snežnik (mountain)
| Snežnik (mountain) | |
| Mountain plateau | |
 View from Big Mount Snežnik (Veliki Snežnik). To the right, the Drago Karolin Lodge. | |
| Country | Slovenia |
|---|---|
| Region | Inner Carniola |
| Part of | Dinaric Alps |
| Highest point | Big Mount Snežnik (Veliki Snežnik) |
| - elevation | 1,796 m (5,892 ft) |
| - coordinates | 45°34′53.45″N 14°25′53.55″E / 45.5815139°N 14.4315417°E |
| Geology | Sedimentary |
| Period | Cretaceous, Jurassic |
  Location in Slovenia
| |
Snežnik (Italian: Monte Nevoso) is a wide karst limestone plateau with an area of about 85 square kilometres (33 sq mi) in the Dinaric Alps of Slovenia.[1][2] It is built mainly of Cretaceous limestone, with Jurassic limestone and a small amount of dolomite at the top. The surface has been transformed by ice in the last glacial period. It is flush in general, but has numerous dry valleys, sinkholes, about 300 caves and shafts,[1] and cold-air pools with temperatures reaching −32 °C (−26 °F) in the coldest part of year. The surface is mainly stony, covered with patchy and shallow soil, except for the larger depressions. Because the plateau is situated only 28 kilometres (17 mi) from the Adriatic Sea, it has up to 3,000 millimetres (120 in) of precipitations per year. It is covered by snow in winter. Due to the karst nature of the plateau, there are no surface streams.[1]
The vegetation of Snežnik was first researched in the 19th century by Henrik Freyer, who was later the curator of the Estate Museum of Carniola in Ljubljana.[3] It is Central European, with a large contribution of Southern European species and montane flora above the timberline.[1] At sinkholes, the vegetation inversion and the otherwise rare in Slovenia lower timberline may be observed.[3] The plateau is covered by beech and fir forests, except for the highest parts covered by dwarf pine and grass. The area of Snežnik above 1,450 metres (4,760 ft) covers 196 hectares (480 acres) and was protected in 1964 as a natural landmark.[2] It is the growing place of Edraianthus graminifolius, Arabis scopoliana, Campanula justiniana, Nigritella rubra, Gentiana clusii, Gentiana pannonica and other flowers. The animals living there are brown bears, wolves, deers, wild boars and lynxes,[2] and a number of bird species, like Ural Owl, Corn Crake, Western Capercaillie, Hazel Grouse, and Golden Eagle.[1]
The plateau has two peaks, separated by a pass. Its lower peak, Little Mount Snežnik (Slovene: Mali Snežnik), has an elevation of 1,688 metres (5,538 ft). Its higher peak, Big Mount Snežnik (Veliki Snežnik) has an elevation of 1,796 metres (5,892 ft).[2] The Big Mount Snežnik is the highest non-Alpine peak of Slovenia and the highest peak of the Path of Couriers and Operators of the National Liberation War.[2] It may be seen from many other parts of Slovenia and is very visited.[4] There is a wide view from it, and an direction plate.[2] It is most easily accessible from Sviščaki, part of the dispersed settlement of Snežnik, situated at the plateau.
The Drago Karolin Lodge (Koča Draga Karolina) is located just below the peak of Big Mount Snežnik towards the border with Croatia.[4] It was first built as a shelter under the leadership of the professor and mountaineer Drago Karolin, the president of the Snežnik Ilirska Bistrica Mountaineering Club. From 1977 till 1994, it was expanded and named after its first constructor.
In The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola, published in 1689, the polymath Johann Weikhard von Valvasor wrote about Snežnik:[5]Slivnica is considerably high. Snežnik is much higher. This mountain, the neighbour of which is the castle with the same name, is completely pointy and a true sky drill, because it raises you so much that you may wander with eyes all across the country, yes, you may send eye rays across the sea, to Italy, to Croatia, to Turkey and everywhere around. It is situated at the Croatian and Dalmatian border and harbours dreadly wilderness.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Snežnik-Pivka". Sigma2 (in Slovene). Science and Research Centre of Koper, University of Primorska.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Dobnik, Jože (2006, 2011). "Pot kurirjev in vezistov NOB" [Path of Couriers and Operators of the National Liberation War]. Pespoti.si. Planinska zveza Slovenije [Mountaineering Association of Slovenia]. Geodetska uprava Republike Slovenije [Geodetic Administration of the Republic of Slovenia]. Društvo Domicilnega odbora kurirjev in vezistov NOV Slovenije [Society of the Domicile Board of the Couriers and Operators of the National Liberation War of Slovenia]. Točka Veliki Snežnik [The Veliki Snežnik Point]. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Wraber, Tone (November 2003). "K ledinskemu imenstvu na ovršju Notranjskega Snežnika" [To the Fallow Names at the Top Area of the Inner Carniolan Snežnik]. Planinski vestnik [Mountaineering Gazette] (in Slovene) (Mountaineering Association of Slovenia) 103 (11): 31–34. ISSN 0350-4344. COBISS 23631970.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lukan, Tadej. "Snežnik". Hribi.net. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
- ↑ "Slava vojvodine Kranjske - in Slovenije: tri stoletja najimenitnejšega Valvasorjevega dela" [The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola - and Slovenia: Three Centuries of the Most Outstanding Valvasor's Work]. Planinski vestnik [Mountaineering Gazette] (in Slovene) (Mountaineering Association of Slovenia) 89 (3): 112–115. 1989. ISSN 0350-4344.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Snežnik. |
- Point Veliki Snežnik (Peak). A map and general information about the access and climbing to Kojca. Pespoti.si. (Slovene)
- Snežnik. VR panoramas (surround photography) of Snežnik. Boštjan Burger. (Rich media - may be viewed with QuickTime).
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