UNTOUCHED DIVERSITY AT THE CROSSROADS DRAVOGRAD. KORO[KA. SLOVENIA.
2 UNTOUCHED DIVERSITY
I n Dravograd the colourful geographical centre of Koro{ka, in the diverse landscape, we find a junction of three mountain chains and rivers that have given names to three valleys of Koro{ka, the Dravska, Mislinjska and Me`i{ka valley all named after their rivers. On the left bank of the river Drava the sunny hillsides raise to the top of Kozjak, Ko{enjak which is with its 1522 metres above sea-level the highest top in the community of Dravograd. On the other side the Northwest edges of the mountain chain Pohorje flow together in the embrace of the rivers Mislinja and Me`a. Me`a which flows from its narrow valley together with the river Drava completes the east part of the Karavanke Mountains from the hillsides of Strojna to Dobrova where we find the famous initial deposit of the mineral dravit, named after the river Drava which is incredibly rare worldwide. The ancient roots of the land rest in its geological structure, consisting of the oldest bedrocks in Slovenia. Drava has shaped the characteristics of the land with its river-bed and its deposits throughout the ages and enabled life on the river terraces which turned into fields and settlements after people started inhabiting the land. The particularities are also determined by the climatic effects of the Alpine and Pannonia land of Slovenia as it is intertwined exactly in this location. AT THE CROSSROADS 3
Pajenk s lime trees
I n Dravograd we can find many natural values of national or local meaning as well as ecologically important areas which need to be preserved and protected as a whole: the lake of Dravograd and the river banks of Drava, which are categorized under the system of the European network Natura 2000, Pohorje with its forest nature reserve in Bukovje, the entire area of Ko{enjak and the highest areas of Strojna. Among the 57 recognized natural treasures we can find an astonishing 33 mighty trees that have been ranked as natural monuments due to their astounding dimensions. The ancient symbols of life are proudly growing next to farmhouses or at crossroads. In the village Vi~ we can find the magnificent lime tress of Pajenk, growing next to one another and the settlement of Robindvor is home to one of the most magnificent oak trees in Koro{ka with the perimeter of over 4 metres and the height of 28 metres. The mightiest of all beech trees is located at the church of St. Urban (Sveti Urban) right on the border with Austria. Another beautiful specimen can be found among the spruce trees Otova above Vrata, as it has 515 cm in perimeter. Next to the castle of ^rne~e grows the largest ash tree in all of the country. It is 21 metres tall and it has a whopping 520 cm in parameter. Life has always been present in this area and fossil finds of the ice age ibex in Trbonje and the mammoth remains in Oti{ki Vrh are evidence that the land was home to many creatures long before our time. Fosile remains of the stoneage ibex AT THE CROSSROADS 5
A very special geological natural treasure of global value is the mineral dravit named after the river Drava. Its primary deposit area was discovered on Dobrova in 1884 right at the junction of Dravograd's hills, rivers and valleys. 6 UNTOUCHED DIVERSITY
THE LAKE OF DRAVOGRAD The lake of Dravograd came to existence, when the hydroelectric power plant was built between Dravograd and ^rne~e back in 1943. The river lost its important transportation role and above the dam the slowed down flow began creating a lake with a marsh, shallow areas, islands and reeds which all came together as a rich living environment for animals and plants some of which can be listed under endangered species. The swan mussle Eurasian coot Gobio 7
8 A biotic area was created and it now offers shelter to many animals and home to some very rare marsh plants in the Koro{ka area. This bay can be classified under one of the most important wetland areas in Slovenia. In the typical growth of the reed, water iris and other marsh vegetation we can find amphibians and insects and the river bank plants create excellent conditions for fish in the shallow areas of the lake at the bottom of which we can even find certain types of river clams. There are several interesting bird species living in this wetland, more than 150 different types have been documented nesting in the marsh or stopping by in the periods of migrations south. The area is an international ornithological location. UNTOUCHED DIVERSITY Yellow Iris The Mute swan
KO[ENJAK Right above the town, north of the river Drava towards the top of Ko{enjak (1522 metres), is the start of the most beautiful and interesting part of the Dravograd landscape from a natural science perspective. Due to the closeness of the central Alps and the neighbouring Golica (2144 metres) it has high mountain world characteristics. The domed mountain top with preserved mountain grass areas is surrounded by three peaks overgrown with thick forests: Gori{ki vrh, Ojstrica and Kozji vrh. Turk s cap Lily Upper Marsh Waterfall above Dravograd
H ere, the stream Velka cuts its path south down the mountain between the mighty beech forest and contributes to the diversity of the area. The stream of Ojstrica has its spring beneath Ko{enjak and creates a waterfall on its colourful path down towards the valley. Velka represents and ecologically important area where we can find several botanical and zoological particularities. In the valley of Velka the water carved its way through the marble during the centuries and created a cave which offers shelter to different creatures, mostly bats. The Karbel cave is 62 metres deep and is the only one of its kind in Slovenia. Towards the top of Ko{enjak we can find forest grouses (the wild rooster, black grouse, and partridges) as well as the mountain hare and marmot. The mountain Alpine growth is rich with cranberries and blueberries. We can also find many endangered alpine plants that are protected. Velka waterfall The cave of Karbel The rock ptarmigan Koch's gentian
BUKOVJE The forest Bukovje overgrows the shady and damp rocky North hillside of Pohorje. It represents a unique growing area for beech trees and ferns on the rocky surfaces, and at the same time it is the living area of some of the most rare animals and plants, endangered by the European standards. The forest covering 134 hectares therefore holds the label of a forest reserve. AT THE CROSSROADS 11
Over the green hillsides which open views to the narrowness of the valleys in winding rivers rich with life on both sides and extending life on its banks and slopes one can truly feel the natural jewels of Dravograd and feel the countless possibilities for exploring its untouched beauties. Published by: JZ Dravit Dravograd Editors: @are Tom{i~, Aleksandra Gradi{nik Text: Aleksandra Gradi{nik (by: Gradi{nik, Aleksandra, ur. 2005. Dravograd na sti~i{~u poti. Dravograd: Ob~ina Dravograd) Photography: Tomo Jeseni~nik, Zdenko Kup~i~, Matja` Je`, Archive: Dravit Dravograd, The municipality of Dravograd Translations: English: Terezija Jamnik, German: Tatjana Intihar Proofreading: Branka Fi{er Design: Aleksandra Gradi{nik, Borut Brumec Printed: Evrografis 2015