The
Convention Concerning the Protection of the World
Cultural and Natural Heritage was adopted by
the UNESCO General Conference on 16 November
1972 in Paris and entered into force in 1976.
Its aim is to identify, protect, present and
transmit cultural and natural heritage of international
importance to future generations.
The Škocjan Caves were entered on UNESCO’s
list of world heritage sites on 28 November
1986.The
Škocjan Caves are, above all, a natural phenomenon
of global significance, ranking side by side
with the Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef,
the Galapagos Islands, Mount Everest and others.
The Škocjan Caves
meet the scientific criteria for world heritage sites
in the field of nature:
the largest
known underground canyon in the world (UNESCO criteria
a-i, a-iii);
an example
of contact karst that was formed at the juncture of impermeable
flysch and permeable limestone; when describing
collapse dolines, karstologists based their writing
on Velika and Mala dolina and the term is currently
used in the international karstic terminology (collapse
dolines); numerous karst phenomena have developed
in this small area (sink holes, natural bridges,
gorges, potholes, collapse dolines, abysses, underground
canyon, passages covered with flowstone deposits,
springs etc.) (UNESCO criteria a-i);
Velika and Mala
dolina, part of the caves with sink holes and the
underground canyon are examples of extraordinary
natural beauty with great aesthetic value (UNESCO
criteria a-iii);
due to particular
microclimatic conditions, an extraordinary
ecosystem has developed in Velika and Mala dolina, in which
the Mediterranean, Sub-Mediterranean, Central European,
Illyrian and Alpine bio-geographical elements co-exist.
For instance, Alpine (e.g. Prumula auricula) and
Mediterranean species (e.g. Adianthum capillus-veneris)
grow side by side. Alpine species found shelter
on the colder bottom part of collapse dolines during
warmer periods after the ice ages (glacial relics)
(UNESCO criteria a-ii, a-iv);
Velika dolina
is the classical location of Campanula justiniana
which grows only in the South-Western part
of Slovenia (an endemic species) while bats
and the subterranean cave fauna are the most
significant endangered animal species (UNESCO
criteria a-iv);
the area also
has great cultural and historical significance as it has been inhabited since the Mesolithic
period. The long-term coexistence between nature
and people is reflected in the typical Karst
cultural landscape, including the particular
pattern of settlement and Karst architectural
heritage. The region has been historically
important from the viewpoint of the fundamental
research of Karst and karstic phenomena since
the 17th century (Valvasor). Similarly, important
is the evidentiary role of the Škocjan Caves
for the period when tourist trails were being
carved through the cave walls.
Cerkvenik Bridge
is situated 45 meters above the largest
known underground canyon
in the
world.(Photo: B. Lozej)
