THE UNDERGROUND WORLD

 

Slovenia is a world-renowned country for karstic phenomena and especially caves. Even the scientific term “karst” is used worldwide to describe geological phenomena formed during the dissolution of limestone and dolomite rocks, “The Karst” being the name of the extensive limestone plateau stretching from western Slovenia, to northeast Italy and northwest Croatia. Although the Karst is full of surface phenomena like dolines, poljes, limestone pavements and so on, the greatest natural treasures are found underground. In Slovenia there are around 10,000 known karstic caves, with an average 100 new caves discovered every year. Most of them are found in western and central Slovenia. Some of the most famous and beautiful caves in Slovenia include Škocjanske jame (UNESCO site), Postojnska jama, Križna jama and Planinska jama.The Slovenian Karst is also known as one of the most species-rich in terms of its underground fauna, hosting about 400-450 species of cave animals. The first cave animals in the world were described using specimens from Slovenian karstic caves. The caves at Postojna are also known as the cradle of speleobiology, a branch of biology concentrating on the study of life lived underground.

 

 

Famous & Charismatic Species

 

 

Olm 

Proteus anguinus / Človeška ribica

 

Black Olm 

Proteus anguinus / Močeril

 

Common Cave Cricket

Troglophilus cavicola / Jamska kobilica

 

Neglected Cave Cricket 

Troglophilus neglectus / Jamska kobilica

 

Harvestmen

Arachnids Opiliones / Suha južina

 

Greater Horseshoe Bat

Rhinolophus ferrumequinum / Veliki podkovnjak

 

Lesser Horseshoe Bat

Rhinolophus hipposideros / Mali podkovnjak

 

Mediterranean Horseshoe Bat

Rhinolopus euryale / Sredozemski podkovnjak

 

Common Bentwing Bat

Miniopterus schreibersii / Dolgokrili netopir