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The Seasonal Lakes of Pivka Nature Park is a protected area in Slovenia. It is in the country's center and is known for its field landscapes adorned with rare ephemeral lakes and forests. The park has 134 named mountains, the highest of which is Dedna Gora (1,293m / 4,242 ft). The most prominent mountain is Debeli Vrh (1,275m / 4,183 ft).
The park covers 140 sq. km (54.1 sq. mi), occupying more than half of the Municipality of Pivka. The park is protected within the Natura 2000 area, a testament to its natural value. The lakes sit in the middle of the Pivka River basin, between the Javorniki mountains in the east and the Šilentabor and Primož hills in the west.
The two largest intermittent lakes are Palško and Petelinjsko Lakes. A smaller cluster of five includes Small and Big Zagorsko Lake, Small and Big Drskovško Lake, and Parsko Lake.
Palško Jezero Lake is the largest of all the Pivka lakes. At its total capacity, it can accommodate 300 football fields. Regarding average water level, Palško Jezero Lake is similar to Lake Bled (the famous lake in the Julian Alps of Slovenia) but nearly twice as large at its maximum size. Petelinjsko Jezero Lake remains visible for the longest duration, with water present for up to nine months of the year, as observed in 2014, when two exceptionally voluminous lakes developed.
The Pivka River starts in the karst basin of Pivšče near Zagorje, home to several karst springs, with the most significant being the Pivšče spring. The term "Pivka" refers to a sinkhole that absorbs water or a slow-draining small lake.
When there's plenty of water, the Pivka River winds slowly through the landscape; otherwise, its bed is dry. The river played a role in forming the renowned Postojna Cave. After 26 km (16.2 mi), the Pivka River disappears into the Postojna Cave, one of Slovenia’s most extended cave systems. Surface and groundwater from Upper Pivka flow into two different seas: the Pivka River flows into the Black Sea, and the Reka River flows into the Adriatic Sea.
The lakes sit on a rocky platform in the Upper Pivka Basin, near the foothills of the Javorniki mountains above the Pivka riverbed. This platform has several low spots with flat bottoms and steep edges, which fill with water when it rains heavily in late autumn or spring.
Various karst plateaus surround the Pivka River valley. To the north are the steep Nanos and Hrušica, while the Javorniki and Snežnik mountains dominate the east, southeast, and south. In the west, the Tabor range and Slavenski Ravnik slope down into the Košana valley.
The region is split into Upper (Zgornja) and Lower (Spodnja) Pivka. The Upper Pivka, located south of Prestranek, is mainly limestone. The Lower Pivka, north of Prestranek, is a depression with a non-permeable bottom surrounded by permeable karst rocks like limestone and dolomite.
The bottom of the Pivka valley is partly covered with sediment carried by the river. This sediment also covers the floors of larger karst depressions, which periodically fill with water in the Upper Pivka.
The diversity of life in the Pivka Lakes reflects the changing water levels. This diversity thrives because of the interaction between water patterns, human land use, and Mediterranean-like climate, creating different habitats like wet meadows, dry fields, shrublands, forests, and caves.
The region encompasses various habitat types, including intermittent lakes, wet meadows, dry grasslands, beech forests, and caves. Unique species like the small fairy shrimp and the olm are found only in this region. During floods, wet meadows teem with tadpoles and water insects, while colorful flowers, butterflies, and birds flourish in dry seasons.
Herbs thrive in dry meadows, offering flavors for home cooking, and various birds, including some rare species, inhabit the forested areas. The lakeside forests are home to diverse wildlife, including deer, lynx, and bears, while smaller creatures like squirrels and hares are commonly spotted along the trails.
Large carnivores like wolves, bears, and lynxes play essential roles in ecosystem balance, primarily in forests like those surrounding the lakes. They help regulate prey populations and contribute to seed dispersal through their diet.
The meadows around the lakes vary in type, with extensive wetlands dominating areas prone to more frequent flooding and drier grasslands occupying less flood-prone areas. Wet meadows host plants like wild gladiolus and marsh gentian, while dry grasslands support species like fly orchids and greater butterfly orchids.
In the past, the Pivka River boasted a total of 13 operational mills and sawmills along its course. The basins of Palško Jezero Lake and Petelinjsko Jezero Lake were once utilized as military training grounds by the Yugoslav People’s Army. Evidence of this history remains visible in various alterations to the lake bottoms, including grenade holes of varying sizes, trenches, and other modifications. Efforts have been made to restore the bottom of Palško Jezero Lake.
The vicinity surrounding the intermittent Pivka Lakes boasts approximately 90 documented and explored caves. Some caves, such as Parska Golobina, Otoška Jama, and Jama v Lozi, served as shelters for Stone Age inhabitants.
Early initiatives to protect these seasonal lakes trace back to the 1960s, yet even after designating certain lakes as living natural monuments of national significance, military activities continued within the area. Not until 1984 did the Municipality of Postojna issue a decree officially recognizing several lakes, including Lake Palčje and Lake Petelinje, as natural monuments.
Despite these protective measures, some lakes remained in military use, while others faced challenges from encroaching vegetation due to agricultural abandonment, resulting in ongoing environmental degradation.
The establishment of the Seasonal Lakes of Pivka Regional Park in 2014 marked a significant milestone. Under its protective umbrella, the park encompassed all lakes within the Municipality of Pivka.
This relatively easy hike is 16 km (9.9 mi) in length. At the summit, you'll find a small church, built in the seventeenth century. This hike is suitable for families looking to immerse themselves in nature and is partially accessible by car.
Four peaks surround Lake Cerknica: Veliki Javornik, Križna gora, Slivnica, and Špička. Prepared hiking enthusiasts can embark on the Cerknica hiking trail, a challenging adventure spanning one or two days.
This trail offers the opportunity to see the Cerknica valley while summiting four prominent peaks: Veliki Javornik, Križna Gora, Slivnica, and Špičasto Stražišče (Špička). Regarded as the ultimate hiking challenge in the Notranjska region, this trek covers a distance of 53 km (32.9 mi) with an elevation gain of nearly 2,000 m (6,562 ft).
The Krpan trail is a 110 km (68.4 mi) long circular hiking path marked with signs tracing the footsteps of Martin Krpan, the heroic character from Fran Levstik's story. Along this trail, adventurers will encounter significant historical sites and numerous cultural landmarks, such as churches and well-preserved estates.
The trail offers the opportunity to observe karst phenomena up close, including springs, sinkholes, intermittent lakes, caves, and unique ecosystems. Recreational hikers can typically complete the entire route in three days, though tackling it in shorter stages is also feasible. Moreover, the trail accommodates cyclists and horseback riders.
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Postojna, a town in southwestern Slovenia, has a population of approximately 15,000. It serves as a gateway to the world-famous Postojna Cave system, one of Europe's largest karst cave systems. Visitors flock to explore its underground passages, adorned with stunning stalactites and stalagmites. Postojna is also home to the majestic Predjama Castle, a medieval fortress built into a cliffside.
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