mountains

Mountains - Alps

Slovenia is a mountainous country with over 80% of its territory defined as ”upland”. Most of the northern part is dominated by the Alps, that reach their southeastern limit of distribution in Slovenia and are known as the Southeastern Limestone Alps. In Slovenia the Alps meet the Dinaric mountains that run south-eastwards right through the Balkans. There are three distinct alpine mountain ranges in the country: the Julian Alps in the northwest with the Kamnik-Savinja Alps and Karavanke in the north. The forested plateau of Pohorje in northeastern Slovenia is usually also considered part of the Alps, although its peaks only reach an altitude of around 1500 metres above sea level (a.sl.). Most of the Julian Alps are protected as part of the Triglav National Park, covering an area of 880 km2. Mount Triglav, with its 2864 metres is Slovenia's highest mountain. The Alps comprise a large variety of different habitats: conifer forests, rich mountain pastures, rocky screes, mountain ridges, vertical cliffs and scenic alpine valleys with waterfalls. Some of the most beautiful areas worth visiting include the Triglav valley lakes, Kriški podi, Krnsko jezero, the Komna plateau, Mangartsko sedlo (Mt. Mangart) and the the Kanin mountain range, Mt. Črna prst, Mt. Breginjski Stol and Logarska dolina. Most of the alpine world above the tree-line (the most interesting habitat) is usually only accessible on foot, by hiking the numerous mountain trails. A few high-altitude areas can be reached by car or cable car and the typical alpine wildlife can be enjoyed without too much physical effort. Access by road is possible in the late spring and summer on Mangartsko sedlo (Mt. Mangart), the Vršič pass and Breginjski Stol, while the Kanin mountain range, Mount Vogel, Mount Krvavec and Velika Planina have all-year-round cable car access.