Triglav National Park

Triglav National Park

 

 

Location: Julian Alps   Map

Area: 838 km²

 

Description of Triglav National Park

Triglav National Park is situated in the Julian Alps of Slovenia, on the border with Austria and Italy. It covers an area of 838 km² and it is named after its tallest mountain of Triglav (2864 meters) or "three heads". It is also one of the most favourite climbing sites in the park. The trails to the top are usually open between June and October. Picturesque valleys are covered by virgin forests and numerous enchanting glacial lakes. The largest is lake Bohinj that is commonly visited by many tourists. Keep in mind that temperature ranges depending on elevation so dress accordingly. In summer months it ranges from 30 °C in the bottom valleys to 6 °C at the higher peaks. If you take in consideration strong gusts of freezing wind it might make high altitude hiking and climbing fairly unpleasant if you are not prepared for it. In winter months average temperatures range from 0°C to -9°C. Rafting is available at the Soca river valley.

 

History

In August 1908, a group of men traversed part of the Triglav Lakes Valley . These were the official participants of the visit, which was initiated by the State Forestry Service in Radovljica at the initiative of seismologist and naturalist Albin Belar . However, Belar's proposal for the establishment of the Nature Park above Komarča did not materialize because there was no legal basis for this. Legislation of the time also did not allow for grazing. Thus, the opportunity for Slovenia to have the first national park in Europe was missed.

In 1920, the Department for the Protection of Nature and Natural Monuments of the Museum Society submitted to the Provincial Government the famous Monument to Slovenia, whose request was the establishment of conservation parks following the example of other countries. The establishment of the Alpine Conservation Park in 1924 (Area 1,400 ha) was approached by the Department for the Protection of Nature and Natural Attractions and the Slovenian Mountaineering Association for only 20 years.

The name Triglav National Park was first used in 1926. The credit for this goes to Professor Fran Jesenko , who spoke about the sights of Triglav National Park in the Morning Journal on May 90 .

After the expiration of the 20-year contract, the re-establishment of the park was hampered primarily by pasture interests and ambiguities regarding the authority to proclaim the park. On May 26, 1961 , the People's Assembly of the People's Republic of Slovenia adopted a decree declaring the Triglav Lakes Valley a national park called Triglav National Park (Area 2,000 ha). The extension of the Triglav National Park was adopted on May 27, 1981 by the Act on the Triglav National Park (Area: 83,807 ha or 838.07 km² or 4% of the surface of Slovenia).

 

Caves in Triglav National Park
A large part of the Triglav National Park consists of heavily karsted Upper Triassic carbonates . The surface is glaciocratic, and on the high plateaus there are numerous entrances to the karst chasms , which sometimes lead over a kilometer deep into the massif. The development of highland caves is closely linked to Pleistocene glaciation. The park area is one of the hottest cave exploration areas in the world. The first caves were explored in the 1920s, and now there are 637 caves registered in the park.

 

Vintgar Gorge (Soteska Vintgar) or Bled Gorge (Blejski Vintgar) is one of the most beautiful areas in the protected reserve in the North- East region of the park. It is a short walk situated 4.5 km from a town of Bled. A wooden footbridge that dates to 1893 walks along the Radovna River to the Sum waterfall. The walls of the canyon reach a height of over 100 meters or 330 feet.
 
Savica Waterfall is located West of the largest lake of the park lake Bohinj. It reaches a height of 60 meters. It is fairly short, but steep climb to the foot of the natural formation. It is open between April and October between 8am and 6pm. It is one of the few places within Triglav National Park that actually have entrance fee. It is 2 Euros.

 

Black Lake (1319 m above sea level ) is the lowest lying or last lake in the valley of the Triglav (seven) lakes . It got its name because of its position in the midst of a forest that extends just beyond the edge of the Fennel . Due to its relatively low altitude, it is the warmest of the Seven Lakes. It is 150 m long, 80 m wide and 6 m deep. It is hydrologically linked to the multi-level lakes whose waters flow through the Black Lake into the Savica Waterfall (the source of the Sava Bohinjka ). There are more aquatic species in the lake.

 

Kluže Fortress

Location: 6 km North- East of Bovec

Tel. 05 384 19 00

Open: 9am- 9pm July and August

Entrance Fee: adults €1.70, children €1.25

www.kluze.net

Kluže Fortress is a military fortification situated 6 km (4 miles) North- East of Bovec in Triglav National Park. It was constructed in the strategic valley of the Koritnica River in 1882 by the Austrians. It was erected on a site of an older 17th century castle. It was originally protected a garrison of 180 man with three cannons and four machine guns. During the World War I the garrison was increased and their fire power was increased significantly. It was badly damaged by the Italian bombardment (Isonzo Front). Local museum in the fort contains an exhibition devoted to these historic events.