Notranjska Regional Park 2007

8/4/2019 Notranjska Regional Park 2007

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Without any false modesty, I can state that the story of Lake Cerknica is a true wonderof nature, and that it ranks, rightfully and without any bias, among the greatest wondersof the natural world.

Janez Vajkard Valvasor, 1686


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Notranjska Regional Park covers the area o the Municipality o Cerknica. It was established in 2002 in order topreserve, protect, and explore the natural and cultural heritage o this area. Te park contains invaluable biodiversity.A large part o the park is included in the European Network o Special Protected Areas, the Natura 2000 sites.Eight such areas are included in Notranjska Regional Park. Te wetlands and numerous karst caves it contains areo international conservational importance.

Te diverse cultural landscape o the park is a result o centuries o people living in harmony with nature. Oldorchards and hay racks are typical o this landscape. Te park contains numerous churches, other well-preservedbuildings o cultural signicance, archeological sites, and the remains o linden-tree avenues along the road betweenUnec and Martinjak. Te remains o an old pear-tree avenue that served as a resting place or travelers and haymakerscan still be ound between Lipsenj and Martinjak, next to Lake Cerknica.

In the Cerknica Karst Polje, spring and autumn rains ll up intermittent Lake Cerknica. In the summer and latewinter, when the lake is usually dry, picturesque karst eatures can be seen on its dry surace, including verticalsinkholes, estavelles, cave sinkholes, and surace water ows. Te main watercourse in the lake area is Stren River.

HE PARKS ARACIONS

Vertical sinkholes in Lake Cerknica Velika Karlovica Cave Sinkhole


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Lake Cerknica has no surace outow; all the water seeps underground and suraces as the Rak River in the Rakovkocjan Valley. Lake Cerknica is a part o the karst river system o the Ljubljanica River a river that bears sevendierent names altogether.Te sunken karst valley o Rakov kocjan was named afer the church o St. Cantianus,the ruins o which can still be seen today. Te main attractions o Rakov kocjan are kalca Cave, Zelke Caves,and the Big and Little Natural Bridges.

Krina jama is one o the most interesting caves in the world. It lies in the east o the park and it has 22 undergroundlakes through which the waters rom the Bloke Plateau ow. Tis cave is amous or its unique cave auna and asan archeological site where cave bear remains have been ound.Te Javorniki Hills, covered with beech and rorests, rise rom the southwest shore o Lake Cerknica. On the lakes north side stands Mount Slivnica (1,114 m),amous or its legendary witches.

Te northwest part o the park includes the Meniija Plateau, with its typical karst relie with unnel-shaped holes.It is covered with orests and dry meadows. On Meniija there are attractive cycling paths and learning trails. Te

Otavska Plateau and Vidovska Plateau lie in the northeast part o the park. Tey are bounded by the deep gorgeso the Ika and Zala rivers.

Little Natural Bridge Big Natural Bridge


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Te park includes many dierent habitats: dry and wet meadows, transitional mires, wetlands, vast orests, andnumerous caves. Tis results in a great diversity o animal and plant species. Some o the special plants are theoblong-leaved sundew, the shining spurge, the Carniolan primrose, the mountain pasque ower, and 34 specieso orchids.

Te most requently studied type o animal in this area is birds. So ar more than 250 bird species have been observed.Te wet meadows o the Cerknica polje serve as a nesting ground or the endangered corncrake, curlew, commonsnipe, and yellow wagtail. Te extensive orests are home to rare bird species such as the Ural owl, boreal owl,white-backed woodpecker, and three-toed woodpecker.

15 species o amphibians have been recorded in the park. O special interest are the yellow-bellied toad, thegreat crested newt and the common rog. Vranja Cave is known throughout the world as an over-wintering siteor these rogs, where up to 25,000 individuals may gather. Te park is also home to many endangered specieso mammals such as the brown bear, wol, lynx, and otter. Te parks waters have 9 indigenous species o sh,

among which the large population o northern pike in Lake Cerknica is noteworthy. Much o the parks variedauna belongs to the invertebrates. More than 130 species o butteries, 500 species o moths, 700 species obeetles, 50 species o grasshoppers, 40 species o dragonies have been ound in this area.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Yellow wagtail Carniolan primrose


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abor 42, SI-1380 Cerknica,Sloveniatel.: +386 5 909 1612e-mail: [email protected]


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NORANJSKA REGIONAL PARK

- the park covers the Municipality o Cerknica, area: 222 km2;

- comprises 8 Natura 2000 sites and a wetland o international importance;

- important natural heritage: intermittent Lake Cerknica, Rakov kocjan Valley, and Krinajame Cave;

- interesting cultural heritage: old orchards, linden and pear-tree avenues, hay racks, archeologicalsites, many well-preserved buildings o cultural importance.

Designed by: Maja Bidovec, Notranjska regional park 2007

Photo: Archive o Notranjska Regional ParkPress: Abakos d.o.o.

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Notranjska Regional Park 2007