“The Škocjan Caves” The Natural Treasure of Slovenia

Well, Škocjan Caves is a cave system, acknowledged as one of the natural treasure in Slovenia. The Škocjan Caves have significance importance, was entered on UNESCO’s list of natural and cultural world heritage sites in 1986. Moreover, Škocjan Caves was also entered in International scientific circles ranking among most important caves of planet earth. The Škocjan Caves represents the most noteworthy underground marvels in both the Karst region and Slovenia. Currently, Slovenia is actively protecting Škocjan Caves system, established Škocjan Caves Regional Park and the Škocjan Caves Park Public Service Agency.  Škocjan Caves is one of largest known underground canyons in the planet earth, encompasses majestic natural beauty with great aesthetic vales, great microclimatic condition, a special ecosystem has developed. In 1999, the Škocjan Caves also entered on the list of Ramsar Wetlands of International importance along with the underground stream of the Reka River. 

Škocjan Caves have formed around 300 m thick layer of Cretaceous and Paleocene limestone. The length of Škocjan Caves is 6,200 m and its exceptional volume of the underground canyon is what distinguishes Škocjan Caves from other caves and places it among the most famed underground features in the world. The cave entrances are at the bottom of the two collapse dolines, big collapse doline and Little Collapse Doline. In 1819, the country councilor Metej Tominc decided to build steps to the bottom of Big Collapse Doline and decorated steps. This is the start of tourism in Škocjan Caves. So, by the time passes, the Škocjan Caves getting popular place for tourists. It is estimated that more than 100,000 visitors per year had visit the cave system. Moreover, visitors can also see the part of the underground canyon with Big Collapse Doline. Further, you can also see terraces of precipitated calcium carbonate inside Skocjan Caves.

Moreover, The Reka River disappears underground at Big Collapse Doline into Škocjan Caves, and its 1/3 flow to the Timavo River. The view of big river in the rainy season below the surface is majestic and frightening. The river is flowing through the underground canyon along 3.5km Hanke’s Channel. Therefore, at some points, the river expands into massive underground chambers, and one of Chamber named Martel’s considered largest underground chamber in Europe. The canyon ends with a small siphon, cannot accommodate enormous volume of water that pours into the cave after torrential rainfall, causing major flooding. 

 The first written evidence on Škocjan Caves originate through the 1561 map of Lazius-Ortelius and 1637 Map of Mercator’s Novus. In 1782, the famous French painter Louis-Francois painted some portions of Škocjan Caves which shows the significance of natural features in the Trieste hinterland. Hence, the systematic exploration of Škocjan Caves started with a speleology expedition in 1884. Thus, explorers reached the major portions of banks of Mrtvo jezero and discovered the Silent in 1904.  The next significant event took place in 1990, when Slovenian divers managed to swim through the siphon Ledeni dihnik and discovered more than 200 m of new cave passages. 

From the ancient times, folks have been fascinated to the gorge where the Reka River disappears underground as well as the secretive cave entrances. However, the Reka River sinks under a rocky wall; on the top of it lies the village of Škocjan, after which the caves are named “Škocjan Caves Regional Park” is archaeologically tremendously rich; though, it was inhabited starting 10 thousand years ago. Nevertheless, a valuable archaeological find in Fly Cave specifies the impact of Greek civilization. This region was surely one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Europe, 3,000 years ago, particularly in the Mediterranean, where it was of significant cult implication in connection with the afterlife and communication with ancestral spirits.

The Spellbinding Ruakuri Cave in the Waitomo Area

The Spellbinding photographs of glow worms illuminating the darkness in the streaks of turquoise lights inside Ruakuri Cave in the Waitomo area. This is ethereal New Zealand cave is lit up by thousands of glow worms. The Auckland based 26 years photographer Shaun Jeffers spent almost a year to capture glittering displays, proving that the country is just as beautiful below ground as it is above. In the first look, you’ll realize myriads stars are shinning at the cave roof.  The creative photographer originally belongs to Liverpool United Kingdom said; it seems a different plant and really out of the world. 

 I my entire life, I’ve never experienced such event like it, and to be very honest, it is extremely difficult to the feeling into words. The glow worm is out of world, when you standing alone in complete darkness looking up at these little glowing creatures are just so fantastic. It looks like a real life Pandora, from James Cameron’s Avatar.  I’ve heard from different sources, that glow worms are notoriously difficult to capture. In 2013, I decided to move in New Zealand to take this challenge and submerge himself to his tripod in cold water for up to eight hours a day. 

The most famous New Zealand place attracts lot of photographers to try their luck to capture stunning luminous glow worm’s phenomenon, which is called Arachnocampa luminosa. Only very few of them able to capture luminous glow worms. I am so lucky to be part of unique cave and emit a phosphorescent glow in order to catch prey and entice mates. 

The Pilot Mountain, United States

Pilot Mountain is a distinctive natural feature in the North Carolina of United States. The metamorphic quartzite monadnock rising peak is 2,421 feet above sea level, actually a remnant of the ancient chain of Sauratown Mountains. The Saura Indians, the primitive inhabitants of this area called the mountain “Jomeokee” means “Great Guide” To feel the real essence of this park, an offseason plan is ideal, when leaves are down, temperatures are mild, and least crowds are there. 

The Pilot Mountain is truly an iconic summit actually a part of the A.V.A Yadkin Valley, an American viticultural Area, U.S. Route 52 passes through the Town of Pilot Mountain near the mountain, and the City of Mount Airy in few miles farther north. The Pilot Mountain dominates the surrounding Piedmont and can be seen from many landmarks is popular and is overcrowded during the summer months. Moreover, Pilot Mountain was mapped in 1751 by Joshua Fry and Peter Jefferson, father of President Thomas Jefferson.

 The exclusive features of Pilot Mountain is Big and Little Pinnacle, have high and colorful bare rock walls, with a lovely rounded top well covered by vegetation. The visitors can take a paved road to the parking lot and campgrounds, access to the main little Pinnacle Overlook and other stunning viewing stations. Approach from any direction and see Pilot Mountain dedicated as a National Natural Landmark in 1976, this solitary peak is the centerpiece of Pilot Mountain State Park. So, Fun, from relaxation to exhilaration is easy to find there.  

Pilot Mountain is part of Pilot Mountain State Park, stretching to the Yadkin River via a corridor of Land, and associated with adjacent Horne Creek Living Historical Farm. From a distance, the ridge slope and Little Pinnacle and round knob to Big Pinnalce gives distinctive Mountain View. Pilot Mountain State Park is a popular destination for canoeing, fishing, horseback riding, picnicking, and rock climbing however, the favorite ones are rock climbing and rappelling at Pilot Mountain; offer a challenge to experienced climbers. Therefore, climbing is only permitted in designated areas; climbing and rappelling are not permitted on the Big Pinnacle. 

The rock formation on the east actually a privately held Sauratown Mountain, however Jomeokee Trail leads around the base of Big Pinnacle. There’s a picnic area down along the ride crest, follows a long cliff, most popular site for rock climbing. The other trails are Sassafras trail, Grindstone trail, connects the campground to Ledge Spring Trail.  Moreover, the Grassy Ridge Trail follows along the mountain's base, connecting the lower ends of the Mountain and Grindstone Trails together. 

The Pisgah Crater, California

Pisgah Crater, or Pisgah Volcano is a volcanic cinder cone in the Mojave Desert between Barstow and Needles, California United States. Pisgah Crater is in the Craters category for San Bernardino County in the state of California. The volcanic peak is about 2.5 miles, had a historic elevation of 2,638 feet. Although, mining activities has reduce the peak lit bit, but had a severe environmental impact. A Canadian based company “Can-Cal Resources Limited” presently owned the mountain specializes in exploration of precious minerals in California. The site of the Mount Pisgah Volcanic Cinders Mine, that produced pumice for commercial use and various cinder products, and sand was used to depict black sands of Iwo Jima in the film Letters from Iwo Jima. Moreover, the mountain top has been removed and scoured into an irregular shape.

Due to natural erosion and mining operation the crater has lost of must its original cinder cone shape. The base diameter of Pisgah Crater is 488 meters and stands 98 meters above the surrounding high desert terrain. Furthermore, the mountain contains a large number of lava tubes, which are frequented by cavers and, these lava tubes in the area are a bit popular and with no trouble accessible destination for caving. However, no authentic data available when Pisgah Crater was last erupted, but many geologist, believes, Pisgah Volcano is the youngest vent of four cinder cones, may have been activity more than 2,000 years ago. Though, many others believe the last eruption could be occurred around 30,000 to 50,000 years ago. The volcano is basaltic, a reliable commonly used potassium-argon for dating purpose would be difficult anyway. A similar nearby Amboy Crater is interbedded with Bristol Playa sediments are somewhere 100,000 years old.

This volcano is very popular geology research site, not uncommon to find university classes and professional seminar groups around the mountain, geological survey activity also occurs at the mountain every so often. Moreover, the volcano erupted at least three times, produced porphyritic basalt, rocks from the first eruptive phase are almost aphanitic. The lava found around the volcano consists of a'a and pahoehoe, with considerable concentrations of olivine, plagioclase and rich amounts of gypsum can be found coating rocks near the cinder cone. The Pisgah Lave Field is located in a valley, with the Cady Mountains (Sleeping Beauty Mountains) to the north, looks like a lady lying on her back with her long dark hair trailing off to the east.

Therefore, the first eruption was a basaltic flow created extensive lava fields, and evidence of intrusive structures, it is believed the cinder cone was formed during this time. The second phase produced similarly extensive flows, while the third eruption produced substantial amounts of tephra. It is believed that most of the present cinder cone consists of pyroclastic material that originated from this final eruption. Well, On the Halfway up, there’s a dark hill called Sunshine Crater Cinder Cone distinctly older than Pisgah Crater, are off limits because they are within the 29 Palms Marine Base. Mount Pisgah name is derived from Bible, is described as a peak on Mount Nebo.