Škocjan Caves

• One of the largest known underground canyons in the world
• Examples of natural beauty with great aesthetic value
• Due to particular microclimatic conditions, a special ecosystem has developed
• The area has great cultural and historical significance as it has been inhabited since the prehistoric times
• A typical example of contact karst[3]

Map of Škocjan Caves

The Reka (solid)-Timavo (dashed) River System of the Yugoslavian and Italian Karst. Settlements:

Croatia 1. Vela Voda Slovenia 2. Ilirska Bistrica 3. Vremski Britof 4. Škocjan

Italy 5. Trebiciano 6. Monfalcone 7. Trieste

Škocjan Caves is the most significant underground phenomena in the Karst region and Slovenia.[4] They were designated as Ramsar wetlands of international importance on May 18, 1999. Along with the underground stream of the Reka River, they form one of the longest karst underground wetlands in Europe.

The explored length of the caves is 6,200 meters (20,300 feet). The caves have formed in a 300-meter-thick (980 feet) layer of Cretaceous and Paleocene limestone.

The Big Collapse Doline and Little Collapse Doline in Škocjan are where the cave entrances are located, situated at the bottom of the two collapse dolines.

At the Big Collapse Doline (Slovene: Velika Dolina), the Reka River disappears underground into Škocjan Caves and then flows underground for 34 kilometers (21 miles), resurfacing near Monfalcone. There, it contributes approximately one-third of the flow of the Timavo River, which travels 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the Timavo Springs to the Adriatic Sea.[5] The sight of the big river disappearing underground at the bottom of the Big Collapse Doline, 160 meters (520 feet) below the surface, is both majestic and awe-inspiring.

What sets Škocjan Caves apart from other caves is the exceptional volume of its underground canyon, making it one of the world's most famous underground features. The river flowing through the canyon turns northwest before the Cerkvenik Bridge and continues along Hanke's Channel (Slovene: Hankejev kanal). This underground channel is approximately 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) long, 10 to 60 meters (33 to 197 feet) wide, and over 140 meters (460 feet) high. It expands into enormous underground chambers at certain points, with the largest being Martel's Chamber. With a volume of 2.2 million cubic meters (78 million cubic feet), it is considered the largest discovered underground chamber in Europe and one of the largest in the world. Despite its vast dimensions, the canyon ends with a relatively small siphon that cannot handle the immense volume of water during heavy rainfall, leading to significant flooding. During such events, water levels can rise by more than one hundred meters (330 feet).[6]

Rimstone Pools in Škocjan Caves

The first written sources about Škocjan Caves date back to the Antiquity era (2nd century B.C.) by Posidonius of Apamea. They are also marked on the oldest published maps of this region, such as the Lazius-Ortelius map from 1561 and Mercator's Novus Atlas from 1637. The commissioning of the French painter Louis-François Cassas in 1782 to paint landscape pieces further attests to the caves' significance as one of the most important natural features in the Trieste hinterland during the 18th century. His paintings depict visits to the bottom of the Big Collapse Doline (Slovene: Velika dolina). In 1689, the Carniolan scholar Johann Weikhard von Valvasor described the sink of the Reka River and its underground flow.

An attempt was made to follow the underground course of the Reka River in order to provide Trieste with drinking water. The deep shafts in the Karst region, as well as Škocjan Caves, were explored for this purpose. The systematic exploration of Škocjan Caves began with a speleology expedition in 1884. Explorers reached the banks of Mrtvo jezero (Dead Lake) in 1890. The discovery of Silent Cave (Slovene: Tiha jama) in 1904 marked a significant achievement when local men climbed the sixty-meter (200 ft) wall of Müller Hall (Slovene: Müllerjeva dvorana). Nearly 100 years after the discovery of Dead Lake (Slovene: Mrtvo jezero), another important event occurred in 1990. Slovenian divers successfully swam through the Ledeni dihnik siphon and discovered over 200 meters (660 ft) of new cave passages.[6]

Tiny waterfall inside Škocjan Caves

For countless generations, the gorge where the Reka River disappears underground and the cave entrances have captivated people. The Reka River sinks beneath a rocky wall, with the village of Škocjan situated on top, lending its name to the caves. Škocjan Caves Regional Park holds immense archaeological value, with evidence of human habitation dating back over ten thousand years. A remarkable archaeological discovery in Fly Cave (Slovene: Mušja jama) indicates the influence of Greek civilization. Following the Bronze Age and into the Iron Age, a cave temple was established in this area. Three thousand years ago, this region held great significance as a pilgrimage site, particularly within the Mediterranean, where it played a crucial role in ancestral worship and communication with the afterlife.[7]

Škocjan Caves entrance

Determining the exact start of tourism in Škocjan Caves is challenging. According to some sources, in 1819, Matej Tominc, a county councilor (after whom Tominc Cave is named), ordered the construction of steps leading to the bottom of Big Collapse Doline (Slovene: Velika Dolina). Other sources suggest that the steps were simply renovated during that time. On 1 January 1819, a visitors' book was introduced, marking the beginning of modern tourism in Škocjan Caves.

In recent years, Škocjan Caves has welcomed approximately 100,000 visitors annually. The first section of the caves, consisting of Marinič Cave and Mahorčič Cave with Little Collapse Doline (Slovene: Mala Dolina), was opened to tourists by 1933. However, it suffered severe damage during a flood in 1963. In 2011, the area was renovated, and a new steel bridge was added.[8] Visitors now have the opportunity to explore the underground canyon featuring Big Collapse Doline (Slovene: Velika Dolina). Guided tours of the cave are available in Slovenian, English, Italian, and German.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Škocjan Caves.

• Škocjan Caves Park official website
• Škocjan Caves - UNESCO World Heritage Centre listing
• Photos of Škocjan Caves
• Škocjan Caves at Slovenia Landmarks