Karst and Brkini
Brkini
Brkini is a region located in southwestern Slovenia, bordering on east the valley of river Pivka and Mt.Snežnik and Čičarija in the south. Brkini are divided into three parts: western, central and eastern. Among all the regions of the Mediterranean world, Brkini with the river valley is the least coastal. It is dominated by flysch, impermeable, trapped between the high plateaus of Snežnik and Čičarija.
In the north of Brkinov there is a valley that follows the course of the 50 km long river Reka. It consists of: Podgora, the basin of Ilirska Bistrica followed by narrow V valley. Her stream ends in valley of Vreme. The plain along the river is quite wet and almost uninhabited. On the northern outskirts, the town of Ilirska Bistrica developed along the important traffic route towards Kvarner in Croatia, which became the center of the province. The central and western are highest parts of Brkinov are hilly, while the eastern part, due to minor differences in height, is more reminiscent of hills. The highest point of the landscape is the 997 m high Kozlek peak.
River basin
The main waterway is the Reka river. The river originates in the forest above Podgora. River Reka is considered the largest disappearing river in Slovenia. Due to the significant fluctuation of the water level, it is classified as a distinctively torrential water. During the biggest floods that occur every fifty years, the river in the Škocjan Caves can rise by more than 100 meters, the water can rise up to 9 meters per hour, and the river flow can exceed 380 m3 per second. A raging river can then bring enormous amounts of river sediments, a total of around 30,000 m3 per year, from the impermeable flysch world.
Valleys and basins
- The Ilirska Bistrica basin was formed by tectonic subsidence. Earthquakes are still present here, indicating a vibrant tectonic zone. The central part of Ilirska Bistrica is flat and somewhat humid.
- The valley of Vreme begins to narrow near Ilirska Bistrica and remains narrow all the way to upper part of Vrem, where it widens out into the plain of Vreme.
Villages and towns
Brkini is dominated by clustered settlements on the sunny side of the ridges, which are visible from afar. Most of the settlements in Brkini, and the valley of river Reka, are built near fertile agricultural land. Almost every blind valley has its own settlement precisely because of the agriculturally suitablility and flat world. This lies either on the edge or on an elevated part of the valley in the immediate vicinity, or it is slightly removed, but only so far that regular cultivation of the land is possible.
The floor plan of a traditional residential house is shaped like an elongated quadrangle with a single door, which is in the middle or on the sides depending on the suitability of the location. The interior of the house usually has four rooms. An outbuilding has been built right next to the residential house.
Attractions and tours
Karst
Karst is a stony territory where the impact of water on limestone creates special surface forms, caves and characteristic underground flows.
Our world between the Gulf of Trieste, Vipava valley and Brkini is called Karst. This is where water and water-soluble rock meet. Since then, they have been creating a magical world of underground caves, disappearing rivers, sinkholes and other karst phenomena. Our Karst plateau has given its name to all landscapes in the World with a similar soil composition, as well as their natural appearance.
The most astonishing karst wonder are the underground caves. In the depths of the earth, the waters create unusual beds and halls and slowly, really slowly create indescribably beautiful stalactites. You must enter this world to perceive its beauty and understand its eternal change.
