www.slovenia.info Travel Agent´s Manual 2010

20
SLOVENIA
NATURE
GREEN FACT
Slovenia is the third most forested country
in Europe, and as much as 58% of its
surface is covered in green forests. We
do not take this feature for granted, and
every year we deliberately plant areas with
1.2 million tree seedlings and in this way
contribute sustainably to the preservation
of the forests.
Slovenia is the only country in Europe that has the Alps and the
Mediterranean, the Pannonian Plain and the mysterious Karst.
Th e variety of the landscape will surprise you again and again.
You can see the sea, and yet there are mountains
behind you. You climb a forested slope,
and below you is a green plain. You stand in
a mountain pasture, and below you winds
the gorge of a river. Th e proximity of contrasts
is a feature of Slovenia! Here you can
still walk through virgin forest or see grapes
PROTECTED:
RESPECTED!
Johann Weikhard Valvasor was writing
about the many natural curiosities of Slovenia
in as early as the 17th century, while
the virgin forest of the Kočevje region was
fi rst given protected status in the 19th
century. National parks, nature parks (protected
landscapes) and regional parks were
proclaimed in the 20th century. Come and
discover thousands of natural wonders!
Mighty trees, forests, virgin forest
Th e virgin forest reserves in Kočevksi Rog,
the Gorjanci Hills and Pohorje are among
the riches of Slovenia’s protected forests.
Individual trees that represent unique landscape
features are protected too.
Streams, rivers, waterfalls
Slovenia’s glacial lakes such as Lake Bled
and Lake Bohinj are an ideal starting point
for walks along mountain streams. Th ese
feed rivers such as the Sava and the Soča.
Th ere are over 300 permanent waterfalls in
Slovenia! Intermittent (i.e. disappearing)
watercourses are another peculiar feature.
growing on the oldest vine in the world.
Here you can hear stories about bears and
eat forest fruits that you have picked yourself
on a short walk out of town. Here you
discover the secrets of the Earth’s surface
and of that which lies below it. Here you are
part of nature!
Gorges and ravines
Slovenia’s rivers have carved out deep, narrow
gorges. Experience elemental nature on
the marked trail through Blejski Vintgar or
on a trip down the Soča.
Flora and fauna
Slovenia accounts for less than 0.004% of
the Earth’s surface but is home to more
than 1% of all known living creatures and
more than 2% of all land and freshwater
species. With over 22,000 species of animals
and plants, it has one of the highest
levels of biological diversity in Europe.
NATURAL PARKS
Triglav National Park
Since 1924, a sanctuary in the Alps, fi lled
with natural treasures.
Škocjan Caves Regional Park
Th e showpiece of karstic caves with the
deepest underground canyon in Europe; a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Notranjska Regional Park
Th e special characteristics of Lake Cerknica
– the largest intermittent karstic lake.
Goričko Nature Park
Part of a tri-national nature park comprising
Goričko (Slovenia), Őrség (Hungary)
and Raab (Austria), in the region with the
lowest rainfall in Slovenia.