Nature sightseeing
VRATA VALLEY
Just behind village Mojstrana three exceptionally beautiful valleys Vrata, Kot and Krma begin, also the starting points for climbing the Triglav. Vrata valley is the most impressive of them. It surprises with its tremendous Triglav North Face, which shuts off the head of the valley like an enormous natural curtain. The Vrata valley is approximately 10 km long and offers a lot of beauties along its way. One can go through the woods or right next to the river Bistrica and explore the ‘Galerije’ or the Educational Nature Trail.
PERIČNIK WATERFALL
As the glacier withdrew from the Vrata valley it deepened its bottom and a conglomerate wall was formed. The water of Peričnik drops down the wall in two grades; the lower waterfall is 52 m and the upper one in 16 m high. From the road through Vrata valley there is a splendid view on lower waterfall. Five minutes walk and you are standing right next to it. The attraction of the lower Peričnik is, that one can go behind it.
TRIGLAV AND ITS NORTH FACE
Triglav is Slovenian highest peak and also the highest summit in the Julian Alps. It represents our national symbol and independence. The top was conquered for the first time on the 26. August 1778. According to the ancient Slavic legend, Mt. Triglav (2864 m) is a three headed God who is watching over the earth, the sky and the underworld. For its height (1200 m) and width (3 km) Triglav’s North Face is classified as one of the most dazzling in the Eastern Alps. Many great events of Slovenian mountain climbing history were recorded here. Horizontally, the wall shows typical stratification and vertically, pronounced pillars: Slovene, German, Central, Jug’s etc. The wall also has natural windows and funnels. To the foot of the Triglav’s North face there is a marked path, starting at Aljaž hut.
KOT VALLEY
The valley, overshadowed by the pinnacle north face of Rjavina, is remarkable for its solitude and quietness. The valley is mostly covered with trees and has no mountain huts. It represents one of the shortest ways to the top of Triglav.
KRMA VALLEY
It represents the easiest but also the longest way to Mt. Triglav. In winter time this area is suitable for ski-touring. Krma is 7 km long and is eastern continuance of Radovna valley. Access by road from Mojstrana, through village Zgornja Radovna to alp Zasipska planina (8 km, 2 hours walking). On alp Zasipska planina is a mountain hut Kovinarska koča from where the top of Triglav is reached in 6 to 7 hours.
JULIAN ALPS AND TRIGLAV NATIONAL PARK
The largest and the highest alpine mountain group in Slovenia is a part of the largest European mountain range the Alps. Its name comes from the roman city Forum Iulii, which is today Cividale in Italy. One third of the Julian Alps is on Italian territory, bigger part in Slovenia covers Triglav National Park. In 1908 Prof. Albin Belar prepared the first proposal for founding the park. Unfortunately his ''nature conservation park above the Komarča cliff'' was not realised. Not until 1924, when The Alpine Conservation Park in the Triglav Lakes Valley was founded (extent 1400 hectares). In 1981 the Law on the Triglav National Park was issued (83.807 ha). The park was divided into a central area (55.332 ha) and a peripheral area (28.475 ha).
RADOVNA
Radovna is the name for the village, the river and the 20 km long valley. Radovna valley begins where the Kot and Krma valleys end. The bottom of the valley is narrow. In certain places there are undulating grassland areas made by glacier sediments. Unfortunately, people have intentionally levelled out the grassland for more convenient cultivation. River Radovna comes out just below Gogala farm house, mainly from the subterranean streams of Kot and Krma valleys. In front of Gogala house in Zgornja Radovna stands the Gogala linden tree. The more than 500 years old tree is 25 m tall and has a circumference of 642 cm at chest height. The tree is covered in blossoms every year and looks magnificent despite its age.
KARAVANKE MOUNTAIN RANGE
This mountain range is more then 100 km long. Because of its east-west continuence the peaks follow each other like in a caravan. Western half of Karavanke is much higher then eastern part. In the western part are also the two highest summits Stol (2236 m) and Kepa (2145 m). Over Karavanke road-passes (Jezerski vrh 1218 m, Ljubelj 1058 m, Korensko sedlo 1073 m) there has always been a lot of traffic between Austria and Slovenia. Very well developed is also mountain tourism with 19 mountain houses and several skiing centres Peč, Peca, Zelenica.
RIVER SAVA DOLINKA
This river separates both mountain ranges, Julian Alps and Karavanke. It springs as waterfall Nadiža in Tamar, runs under ground through whole Planica valley and springs out for the second time in the lake and marshes Zelenci. Sava Dolinka and Sava Bohinjka from Bohinj valley create the longest Slovenian river Sava (221 km through Slovenia, 900 km to its mouthing in Danube).
