| Snežnik | |
|---|---|
 View from Big Mount Snežnik (Veliki Snežnik). To the right, the Drago Karolin Lodge. | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,796 m (5,892 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 1,122 m (3,681 ft) |
| Coordinates | 45°34′53.45″N14°25′53.55″E / 45.5815139°N 14.4315417°E /45.5815139; 14.4315417 |
| Geography | |
  Location in Slovenia | |
| Location | Inner Carniola, Slovenia |
| Parent range | Dinaric Alps |
| Geology | |
| Rock type | Sedimentary |
Snežnik (pronounced[snɛˈʒniːk];Slovene:Snežnik,Croatian:Snježnik,Latin:Mons Albus,Italian:Monte Nevoso,German:Krainer Schneeberg) is a widekarstlimestoneplateau with an area of about 85 km2 (33 sq mi) in theDinaric Alps. It can also be viewed as a southern extension of theJulian Alps. The main part of the plateau is inSlovenia, while the southern part extends intoCroatia and connects to the mountain region ofGorski Kotar.[2][3]
It mainly consists ofCretaceouslimestone, withJurassic limestone and a small amount ofdolomite at the top. The surface was transformed by ice in thelast glacial period. It is generally level, but has numerous dry valleys, sinkholes, about 300 caves and shafts,[2] andcold-air pools with temperatures reaching −32 °C (−26 °F) in the coldest part of year. The surface is mainly stony, covered with patchy and shallow soil, except for the larger depressions. Because the plateau is only 28 km (17 mi) from theAdriatic Sea, it has up to 3,000 millimetres (120 in) of precipitation per year. It is covered by snow in winter. Due to the karst nature of the plateau, there are no surface streams.[2]
The plateau has the following two main peaks:[3]
Note that on the Croatian side of the border, 20 km to the south in theRisnjak National Park ofGorski Kotar, there is a mountain also calledSnježnik or Snežnik with an altitude of 1,506 m (4,941 ft)[4][5]
The vegetation of Snežnik was first studied in the 19th century byHeinrich Freyer, who was later the curator of theEstate Museum of Carniola in Ljubljana.[6] It isCentral European, with a large contribution ofSouthern European species and montane flora above thetimberline.[2] In sinkholes,vegetation inversion and a lower timberline (otherwise rare in Slovenia) may be observed.[6] The plateau is covered bybeech andfir forests, except for the highest parts covered bydwarf pine and grass. The area of Snežnik above 1,450 m (4,760 ft) covers 196 hectares (480 acres) and was protected in 1964 as a natural landmark.[3] It is a habitat forEdraianthus graminifolius,Arabis scopoliana,Campanula justiniana,Nigritella rubra,Gentiana clusii,Gentiana pannonica, and other flowers. The animals living there include brown bears, wolves, deer, wild boars, andlynx,[3] as well as a number of bird species such as theUral owl,corn crake,western capercaillie,hazel grouse, andgolden eagle.[2]
Big Mount Snežnik is the highest non-Alpine peak of Slovenia and the highest peak along theNational Liberation War Courier and Signal Operator Trail (Slovene:Pot kurirjev in vezistov NOV Slovenije).[3] It may be seen from many other parts of Slovenia and is a popular hiking destination.[7] It offers an extensive view and has atoposcope.[3] It is most easily accessible from Sviščaki, a hamlet of the dispersed settlement ofSnežnik, on the plateau.
The Drago Karolin Lodge (Koča Draga Karolina) is located just below the peak of Big Mount Snežnik towards the border withCroatia.[7] It was first built as a shelter under the leadership of the professor and mountaineer Drago Karolin, the president of the Snežnik Ilirska Bistrica Mountaineering Club. It was expanded from 1977 to 1994 and named after its first builder.
InThe Glory of the Duchy of Carniola, published in 1689, the polymathJohann Weikhard von Valvasor wrote the following about Snežnik:[8]
Slivnica is considerably high. Snežnik is much higher. This mountain, the neighbour of which is thecastle with the same name, is completely pointy and a true sky drill, because it raises you so much that you may wander with eyes all across the country, yes, you may cast the rays of your eye across the sea, to Italy, to Croatia, to Turkey, and everywhere around. It lies on the Croatian and Dalmatian border and harbours dreadful wilderness.
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