Postojna Cave; It is a cave system located in the southeast of Slovenia, near the Town of Postojna. With a length of 24 kilometers, it is one of the most visited caves in the world. Therefore, it is very important for the tourism sector. In addition to its features, this cave is home to an endemic species and the only vertebrate animal species living in caves. It is the natural habitat of this interesting salamander without eyes. These creatures are among the most interesting features of the cave system and are one of the reasons why the cave is visited. Sightseeing tours are organized for visitors to the cave where spectacular formations and historical structures are located.
With a length of 24,340 meters, the Postojna cave system is one of the longest cave systems in Slovenia. Postojna Cave is a type of karst cave system formed by the Pivka River. It has the distinction of being the largest cave in the world open to tourism. The average summer and winter temperature in the cave is between 8-10 degrees. The cave has a lighting system, so visitors can have a comfortable stroll. In addition, the cave has a rail system for navigation. Sightseeing tours in the Postojna Cave start with a 3.7 km train journey and the rest is explored on foot. It is forbidden to wander in the cave without a guide and take photos.
The most interesting aspect of Postojna Cave is the cave salamander it hosts, called Proteus Anguinus. The average lifespan of these creatures is around 100 years and they do not have eyes. Cave salamanders have no pigment in their skin. Also, his eyes are buried under his skin. Its body is similar to that of a snake and is 20-30 cm long. Both the adult and the offspring of the aquatic cave salamander have gills. They eat, reproduce and sleep in the water. The cave salamander lives only in Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was also taken to the northwest of Italy and the French part of the Pyrenees.
History of the Postojna Cave System
Postojna Cave was first described by Johann Weikhard von Valvasor in the 17th century. However, graffiti dated 1213 inside the cave show that people used this cave in earlier times. In 1818, a new area inside the cave was discovered by Luka Čeč. In the 1850s, Austro-Czech geographer Adolf Schmidl; He published the first comprehensive scientific report on Postojna and the Pivka Basin. This report has set a standard for research in cave science.
Postojna Cave was officially recognized as a tourist attraction after Archduke Ferdinard’s visit in 1819. The first tourist guide in the cave system was Luka Čeč. In 1884, electric lighting system was introduced to these caves. Thanks to this, the popularity of the cave system has increased even more. In 1872, railways were laid inside the cave for tourists. In this way, tour guides were used to travel by using trains. At the beginning of the 20th century, a gas-powered locomotive started to be used in these caves. During World War I, Russian prisoners of war built a bridge over a large cliff inside the cave.
II. During World War II, the German occupation forces used Postojna Cave to store about a thousand barrels of aviation fuel. Most of them were destroyed by Slovenian Partisans in April 1944. The fire, which lasted for 7 days after the destruction, destroyed most of the cave. The entrance of the cave was also darkened due to this fire. After 1945, the gas locomotive used in the cave was replaced with an electric one and 52 km of the cave system was opened to the public. In the late 1990s, Postojna Cave became one of the most visited caves in the world, with approximately 1 million visitors annually.
In June 2015, Postojna Cave management announced that cave divers had discovered an underwater corridor connecting to Planina Cave. This cave system is also home to the world’s only underground post office. In April 2014, “EXPO Postojna Cave Karst”, the world’s largest permanent exhibition on cave and karst systems, was opened in Postojna. This exhibition includes interactive sections with information about cave and karst systems, films and photographs showcasing important karst sites around the world. This exhibit helps visitors learn more about cave and karst systems.
Natural Environment of Postojna Cave System
Postojna Cave was formed due to lime formations formed over millions of years by the Pivka River. This cave system is 2,412 kilometers long and consists of 4 caves joined by the same underground river. However, according to the rules of cave science, in order to be considered a cave system, the underground and aboveground connections of the caves to each other must be large enough for a human to pass through. If two of the main cave systems are counted as one, Postojna Cave would be the longest cave system in Slovenia and one of the longest in Europe.
Cave salamanders are an endemic species naturally found in Postojna Cave. On January 30, 2016, a female cave salamander laid more than 50 eggs. This event was also reflected in the world press. From late May to mid-July 2016, 22 cave salamander larvae hatched successfully. These creatures are shown to visitors during their cave tours. Cave tours also include an aquarium where the salamander lives.
