IDRIJA GEOPARK - Geopark Idrija · The closest airport is the national Jože Pučnik Airport Ljubljana at Brnik, situated 76 km from the area. The principal road connection through

APPLICATION DOSSIER FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN GEOPARKS NETWORK

IDRIJA GEOPARK

Idrija – November 2011

A IdentificationoftheArea

1. NameoftheproposedGeopark

2. Surfacearea,physicalandhumangeographycharacteristics

oftheproposedGeopark

3. Organizationinchargeandmanagementstructure

oftheproposedGeopark

4. Applicationcontactperson

B GeologicalHeritage

1. LocationoftheproposedGeopark

2. GeneralgeologicaldescriptionoftheproposedGeopark

2.1 GeologicaldescriptionoftheIdrijaregion

2.1.1. Stratigraphicdata

2.1.2. Tectonics

2.1.3. Idrijaoredeposit

2.2 Geomorphology

2.3 TheKarst

3. Listinganddescriptionofgeologicalsiteswithin

theproposedGeopark

4. Detailsontheinterestofthesesitesintermsoftheirinternational,

national,regionalorlocalvalue

4.1 Internationalimportantgeosites

4.2 Nationalandlocalimportantgeosites

C Geoconservation

1. CurrentorpotentialpressureontheproposedGeopark

2. Currentstatusintermsofprotectionofgeologicalsiteswithin

theproposedGeopark

3. Dataonthemanagementandmaintenanceofthesesites

4. Listinganddescriptionofnon-geologicalsitesandhowthey

areintegratedintotheproposedGeopark

4.1 Floraandfauna

4.2 CulturalheritageintheIdrijaMunicipality

CONTENTS

D EconomicActivity&BusinessPlan

(includingdetailedfinancialinformation)

1. EconomicactivityintheproposedGeopark

1.1.Financialinformation

2. ExistingandplannedfacilitiesfortheproposedGeopark

(geo-education,geo-tourism,tourisminfrastructure,etc.)

3. AnalysisofgeotourismpotentialoftheproposedGeopark

4. Overviewandpoliciesforthesustainabledevelopmentof:

-geo-tourismandeconomy

-geo-education

-geo-heritage

5. Policiesfor,andexamplesof,communityempowerment

(involvementandconsultation)intheproposedGeopark

6. Policiesfor,andexamplesof,publicandstakeholderawareness

intheproposedGeopark.

E InterestandargumentsforjoiningtheEGN/GGN

Annex1-Self–evaluationdocument(DocumentA)

Annex2-SeparatecopyofsectionB,"GelogicalHeritage"theapplication,

perface–Geologicalsummary

Annex3-LettersofRecommendation(Letterofsupportfromthe

UNESCOorganisation)

DigitalfilesoftheApplicationDossieraretobefoundattheinternetsites:http://www.geopark-idrija.si/

Austria

Hungary

Croatia

Slovenia

Ital

y

Ljubljana

Maribor

Nova Gorica

RonchiAirport

JožePučnikAirport

IdrijaGeopark

A.IDENTIFICATIONOFTHEAREA

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A1 NAMEOFTHEPROPOSEDGEOPARK

ThenameofthegeoparkisIdrijaGeopark.ThenameId-rijaistakenfromthenameofthetownandmunicipalityof Idrija,whoseentirearea fallswithin theboundariesoftheproposedgeopark.Idrijaisinternationallyreput-edfor itsmercurymine,which issecond largest intheworld,anditsextremelyrich,preservedminingheritage.Idrija’scoat-of-armsfeaturesthegodMercuryandisas-sociatedwithmercury,whichwasdiscoveredinIdrijain1490. Slovenian geology was born in Idrija, and manygeologicalphenomenahavebeennamedafterthetown(Idrijafault,etc.).Theknowledgeaboutnumerousnatu-ralphenomenainthegeoparkisbasedonresearchcon-ductedbyleadingEuropeannaturalscientistswholivedandworkedinIdrija.

A2 SURFACEAREA,PHYSICALANDHUMANGEOGRAPHYCHARACTERISTICSOFTHEPROPOSEDGEOPARK

The Idrija Geopark is situated in the western part ofSlovenia, at a distance of approximately 60 km fromLjubljana,thecapitalofSlovenia.TheGeoparkcompris-estheareaofthemunicipalityofIdrija.ItbelongstotheGoriškastatisticalregion.

SizeofArea

TheGeoparkcoversanareaof294sq.km,whichrepre-sents1.4%of the territoryofSlovenia.Apopulationofapprox.11800inhabitantslivesintheareaoftheGeopark(dataoftheSlovenianStatisticalOffice,April2011).

Fig.A1–GeographicpositionoftheIdrijaGeoparkinSloveniaanddistancetomajortownsandairports. Fig.A2–VievonthetownofIdrijs

Ljubljana 57 kmMaribor 178 km

Nova Gorica 5 5 kmJože Pučnik Airport 76 km

Ronchi Airport 87 km

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PhysicalGeographicDescriptionoftheArea

TheareaoftheGeoparkissituatedatthemeetingpointofthealpineanddinaricworlds,andcomprisesthehigh-er-lying,flatkarstworldintowhichwatercourses,suchas numerous torrential streams, have cut deep valleysandgorges.OnequarteroftheGeoparkiscomprisedofhigher-lying,flatplateaus.

Theeasternpartoftheareaisformedofthekarsti-fied, plateau-covered Rovtarsko hills, which are the re-mainderofaformerkarstplainandriverterraces.Herethere are several plateaus named after larger settle-ments:Ledineplateau,Vrsniškaplateau,DolskaplateauandZavraškaplateau.Theplateausarebuiltofisolatedkarstterrainwithshallowundergroundwaterdrainageandrarekarstphenomena.

ThewesternpartoftheGeoparkcomprisestheVo-jsko plateau, the plateau-like world around Krnice and

Šebrelj,aswellastheterraces inČekovnik.Thearea isbuiltofisolatedkarstterrain.Thereliefisgentlydiversi-fiedwithinconspicuouspeaks.

ThesouthernpartoftheGeoparkrisessteeplyabovetheIdrijcaRivervalleyandcomprisestheČrnivrhandZadlogkarstpoljes.Thisareaischaracterisedbywhollydeveloped,purekarst.TheextremesouthernpartoftheČrniVrhplateauisencircledbysteepslopeswithpeaksrangingfrom900to1200m.

Theplateausareseparatedbydeepvalleyswithsteepslopesandwatercourses,manyofwhicharetorrential.

Extending across the central part of the Geopark inthedirectionnorth-southisthemainvalleyoftheIdrijcaRiver.Thevalleyisnarrowalmostthroughouttheentirecourseoftheriver.ItbroadensintoalluvialplainsonlyattheconfluenceoftheNikovastreamandtheIdrijcaRiver,

Fig.A3–AreaoftheIdrijaGeopark

IDRIJA GEOPARK

MUNICIPAL BOUNDARY LOCAL COMMUNITY (LC) PROTECTED AREAS

NATURA 2000

M: 1:125 000

N


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wherethetownofIdrijahasdeveloped,attheconfluenceoftheBelcastreamandIdrijcaRiverinIdrijskaBela,andattheconfluenceoftheKanomljicastreamandtheIdrijcaRiver,wherethesettlementofSpodnjaIdrijadeveloped.

Theareahasamoderatelycontinentalclimatetypi-calofwesternandsouthernSloveniaandasubmediter-raneanprecipitationregime.Theaverageannualrainfallexceeds2000mm.

LandUse

TheareaofthemunicipalityisamongthemostdenselyforestedpartsofSlovenia.Approximatelythreequartersof the Geopark is overgrown with forests, which havespreadthroughoutthearea,exceptonlessinclinedsur-faces that are suitable for agricultural cultivation andsettlement.Clearedareas(62km2)arepredominantlyinpodoljes,onplateaus,andat theconfluencesof rivers.Most of these are used as pastureland (50.6 km2), andonly4km2areintendedforagriculturaluse.Theremain-ingclearedareascomprisebuilt-upland(7km2).

Population

In past years, the area has registered a constant trendofslightlydecliningpopulation.Thecurrentlynegativegrowthofthepopulationisprimarilyinfluencedbythenegativeincrease,andpartlyalsobythedepopulationofthemunicipality.

The average population density in the nominatedareaislow,amountingtolessthan41inhabitants/km2,which is more than twice below the Slovenian average(Slovenia:97inhabitants/km2).Themostdenselypopu-latedpartofthemunicipalityisintheIdrijcaRiverval-ley,whichisthelocationofthetwolargestsettlementsintheGeopark,i.e.IdrijaandSpodnjaIdrija.Thesetwosettlementsaredistinctlyurban,andaresettledby63%oftheentirepopulationofthemunicipality.Alltheothersettlements,mostofwhicharescatteredthroughoutthehill-covered part of the municipality, are considerablysmaller. And the population density is also smaller inthispart.Themostsparselysettledareasarethesouth-westernandsouthernpartsoftheGeopark.

TradeandIndustry

TheprincipalstartingpointfortheextremelysuccessfuldevelopmentofindustryinthenominatedareawasthemercurymineinIdrija,whichoperatedforfivehundredyears. Many of the mine’s qualified workers directedtheirrichexperienceandskillsintothedevelopmentofindustrialplants.Onamunicipalscale, industryrepre-sentsthemainbranchoftheeconomyandisfocusedonmachineryandelectricityproduction.

Two international corporations have their regis-teredofficesinthemunicipality.ThesearetheKolektorGroupsandHidriacorporation,whoseindustrialplantsarelocatedinIdrija,SpodnjaIdrija,andinGodovič.

IntheareaoftheGeopark,onlythetownofIdrijahasmajorcommercialcentres,whilethesettlementsofČrni

Vrh,GodovičandSpodnjaIdrijahavesmallshopscater-ingprimarilytothelocalpopulation.

Almost55%oftheactiveworkingpopulationdrivestoworkinanotherplaceeveryday.Asmanyas75%ofthesedailymigrantsdrivetoworkinplaceswithinthemunicipality. This large share of daily migrants withinthe municipality is proof that the municipality repre-sentsastrongemploymentareaforthelocalpopulation.

Accessibility

Owing to its relief characteristics, the Geopark has anunfavourable traffic position and is removed from themaintrafficroutesonthestatelevel.Accessbytrainisnotpossible,asarailwaynetworkhasnotbeenbuiltinthearea.TheclosestrailwayconnectionsareinLogatecandinMostnaSoči.TheclosestairportisthenationalJožePučnikAirportLjubljanaatBrnik,situated76kmfromthearea.

Theprincipalroadconnectionthroughtheareaisthestatemainroad,whichalsohasthegreatesttrafficload.ThismainroadleadstotheareaoftheGeoparkfromthedirectionofLjubljanaviathesettlementofGodovič,de-scendsalongthenarrowvalleyoftheZalastreamtoId-rija,andthencontinuesalongthenarrowvalleyoftheIdrijcaRiverinthedirectionofCerknoandTolmin,andfurtherontowardsthePosočjeregion.WithintheareaoftheGeopark,thismainroadbranchesoffontothreema-jorstateregionalroads(inthedirectionsofAjdovščina,Žiri,andthroughKanomlja).

Access to the area of the Geopark is also possiblefrom various directions via narrow local roads, whichformpartofawellbranchedroadnetworkthroughouttheGeopark.

Tourism

Therichtechnicalandculturalheritage inheritedfromthemercurymineinIdrijaafterfivehundredyearsofop-eration,togetherwiththeexceptionalnaturalheritage,provides a solid foundation for the successful develop-mentoftourism.

Inspiteofthis,tourismisnot(yet)themostimpor-tanteconomicactivity.

InIdrijaanditssurroundings,touristscanvisitinter-estingtechnicalmonumentsthatareexceptionalbothonanationalandinternationalscale.Thesemonumentsrichlycomplementthemonumentsofculturalheritage.Accord-ingtothedataoftheTouristInformationCentreinIdrija,thelargestnumberoftouristsvisittheareainsummer.

InhigherlyingpartsoftheGeopark,thevastnaturalsurroundings provide excellent opportunities for rec-reationaltourism,particularlyforcyclingandhikinginsummer.

Inwinter,well-maintainedalpineskicoursesandcross-countrytrailsontheVojskoandČrniVrhplateausinviteskiingenthusiastsduringfavourablesnowconditions.

IHC P U B L I C I N S T I T U T E

Council

Director

Expertproject group

IHC expert services

Expertproject group

Municipal Council Mayor

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A3 ORGANIZATIONINCHARGEANDMANAGEMENTSTRUCTUREOFTHEPROPOSEDGEOPARK

TheprojectofestablishingtheIdrijaGeoparkwasstart-ed in 2008 by the Idrija Mercury Mine and the IdrijaMunicipality on the basis of a mutual agreement. TheIdrijaMunicipalityhasestablishedaconsultingworkingbody (Committee) and a coordinator of the establish-ing project. The committee prepared expert geologicalbasis and other expert materials for establishing andinterpretingthethematicpathscontentandcarriedoutpromotional, educative and connective activities withexteriorcontractors,especiallypublicorganisationsandpotentialprivatepartnersofthefutureIdrijaGeopark.In2008,thefirstpersonwasregularlyemployedbytheIdrijaMunicipalitytoworkonprojectsandactivities.

In2010,theIdrijaMunicipality,onthebasisoftheIn-stitutesAct (OfficialGazetteofRS,no.12/1991)andthemunicipalstatute(OGRS,no.1/2001),establishedapublicinstitution – the Idrija Heritage Centre (IHC) (OG RS, no.55/2010),theprogramofwhichinvolvesalsotheprotectionof natural monuments and geological heritage, research,developmentandtouristactivitiesaswellasconnectingtopublicandprivatepartners.ThefoundingpurposeofIdrijaHeritage Centre is to provide coordination of the systemof integrated, coordinated and sustainable management,protection,preservationandmaintenanceofIdrija'sherit-age,andconditionsforitspromotionandinterpretationtoensuresustainabletouristicdevelopmentofIdrija.On2ndOctober2010,theActamendingtheActonestablishingofthe public institution Idrija Heritage Centre (OG RS, no.73/2010)enteredintoforce.ThislawexplicitlyplacedtheestablishingandoperationoftheIdrijaGeoparkamongtheIHC'sactivities,formallyestablishingtheIdrijaGeopark.

The Idrija Heritage Centre (IHC) is an independentnon-profitable public institution established by the Id-rijaMunicipality.Themostimportantactivityconnected

tothemanagementoftheIdrijaGoeparkistoensurethecoordinated, organized, harmonious and sustainablemanagementoftheGeoparkarea.

ThebodiesofIHCpublicinstitutionare: theCouncilasthesteeringbodyofthepublic

institution.Itiscomprisedoffivemembers;threeofwhomarerepresentativesoftheIdrijaMunicipality,oneisrepresentativeoftheIdrijaMunicipalMuseumandoneisrepresentativeofemployees;

theDirectorastheexecutivebodyoftheinstitutionwhorepresents,actsonbehalfofandmanagesthepublicinstitution,andisresponsibleforthelegalityandprofessionalismofitsactivities.TheDirectorisappointedandrecalledbythefounderontheproposaloftheCouncil.

Expert,technicalandadministrativetasksarecarriedoutby the IHCExpert Services.TheServices cooperatewithexternalexpertsandcontractorstoensurethequal-ityperformanceoftasksintheareasofgeology,educa-tion,promotionanddevelopment.

TheIdrijaGeoparkOrganigram

TheIdrijaHeritageCentre(IHC) isanindependentnon-profitable public institute established by the Idrija Mu-nicipality. The most important activity connected to themanagementoftheIdrijaGoeparkistoensurethecoor-dinated,organized,harmoniousandsustainablemanage-mentoftheGeoparkareaanditsdevelopment.IHCisthelegal entity providing legal and financial framework forIdrijaGeopark,andassuch it is themaindeveloperandmanageroftheIdrijaGeopark.Forthepurposeofmanag-inganddevelopingtheGeopark,IHChascontractualrela-tionswiththetwokeymanagersoftheculturalandnatu-ralheritageconnectedtotheIdrijaoredepositandmininginthemercurymine.Thetwoco-managersaretheIdrijaMunicipalMuseum-MuseumoftheIdrijaandCerknore-gions,andtheIdrijaMercuryMine-inliquidationwhichwillbereplacedbythenationalinstitution-IdrijaMercuryHeritageManagementCentre.

IDRIJA GEOPARK

Council

DirectorGeopark

partners group

Public Private

IHC expert services

Geoparkexpert group


8

IncarryingoutexpertanddevelopmentactivitiesoftheGeopark,IHCisconnectedtokeyexpertandpartnerorganizations: The Institute of the RS for Nature Con-servation,SloveniaForestService,DevelopmentAgencyofIdrijaandCerkno,CentreforSchoolandOutdoorAc-tivitiesandresearchinstitutions.Thepartnershiphasaformal basis in the Partnership Agreement. The IHC isestablishing partnerships within the private sector, thesuppliersofqualityproductsandservicesrelatedtoGe-oparkprogrammeandactivities.

The management body of the Idrija Geopark is theCounciloftheInstitutewhichadoptsthelong-termpro-grampoliciesandstrategies,thebusiness,financialandotherannualplans,classifiesjobpositionsandthestaffplan,establishesadvisorybodies,andsteerstheworkoftheIHCdirector.TheCouncil is independent inadopt-ingthe IdrijaGeoparkfinancialplan; financingcontrolisconductedbytheIdrijaMunicipalityMonitoringCom-mittee.TheCouncilmembersare:therepresentativesofthefounder,arepresentativeoftheIdrijaMunicipalMu-seumandarepresentativeofemployees.

TheexecutivebodyoftheGeoparkistheDirectorwhoinlinewiththeGeopartExpertGroupdirectivespreparetheannual plan of work the Geopark, comprised of financial,promotionanddevelopmentplans,guidestheworkofex-pertservices,andpresentsandrepresentsandactsonbe-halfoftheIdrijaGeopark.

TheGeoparkExpertGroup isanadvisorybodyoftheIHCinstitutionandtheIHCDirector.Itanswerstoexpertquestions,coordinatesexpertworkbasesandtheirexecu-tionamongExpertorganizationsand institutions in thefieldsofgeology,natureandenvironmentprotection,andisaconnectivebodyamongscientificresearchinstitutionsandnationalbodiesfromreferencefields.Duringtheproc-ess of developing the Idrija Geopark, the expert projectgroupmaybetransformedintotheIHCExpertCouncil.

Members of the Geopark expert group:

UniversityofLjubljana,FacultyofNaturalSciencesandEngineering,DepartmentofGeology

InstituteoftheRSforNatureConservation/RegionalUnitNovaGorica

InstitutefortheProtectionofCulturalHeritageofSlovenia/RegionalUnitNovaGorica

SloveniaForestService/UnitIdrija

IdrijaMercuryMine

KarstResearchInstitutePostojna

GeologicalSurveyofSlovenia

TheGeoparkPartnerGroupiscomprisedofpublicandprivate partners/associates of the Idrija Geopark whohavesignedthePartnershipAgreementandarecreativelycontributingtotheGeopark'sdevelopmentthroughactiv-itiesandpartnershipcooperation.ThecommonactivitiesofIHCandindividualpartnersaredescribedintheappro-

priatelegaldocument(PartnershipAgreement).

The Idrija Geopark partners:

Publicpartners:IdrijaMercuryMine,IdrijaMunicipalMuseum,SloveniaForestService,JurijaVegaSecondarySchool–IdrijaLaceschool,IdrijaElementaryschool,CentreforSchoolandExtracurricularActivities.

Privatepartners(withpublicdelegationsorconcessions):DevelopmentAgencyofIdrijaandCerkno,SočaForestManagementTolmin,KrekovšeHuntingAssociation,IdrijaHuntingAssociation,IdrijaFishingAssociation,IdrijaPublicUtilityServices.

Privatepartners(legalandprivateindividuals): IdrijaMuseumAssociation,IdrijaTouristAssociation,

IdrijaLacemaker'sAssociation,KanomljaTourist-andCultureassociation,PrivateAssociationVas-Rootsforabettertomorrow,TrmaAssociationforZadlog'sSustainableDevelopment,Idrija-CerknoRuralWomen'sAssociation,VojskoCross-countrySkiingCentre,VojskoRuralWomenandGirl'sAssociation,IdrijskeKrniceTouristAssociation,HotelJožef,KendaManor,MiheljIrenas.p.

A4 APPLICATIONCONTACTPERSONContactPerson

Name:DušanČernigojRole:DirectorAuthority:IdrijaHeritageCentre,GeoparkIdrijaStreet:Ul.IX.korpusa17Townandpostalcode:Idrija,5280Country:SloveniaTel:+38653734075;+38641624926Fax:+38653734089E-mail:[email protected]

Thefollowingtable1showsthemembers of the man-agement oftheIdrijaGeopark,thepersons responsi-bleforindividualareasfromtheoperatoroftheGeopark(CID) and partner organisations, and the experts forthepreparationandimplementationofpriorityareasoftheIdrijaGeopark.

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FOUNDER OF THE IDRIJA GEOPARKOrganisation Function/competence NameMunicipalityofIdrija Mayor Mr.BojanSeverMunicipalityofIdrija DeputyMayor/environmental

protection,geoparkMr.BojanRežun

Members of the management of the Idrija GeoparkFunction Organization NamePresidentoftheCouncilofCID MunicipalityofIdrija Mr.BorutZajcMemberoftheCouncilofCID MunicipalityofIdrija Mr.SamoBevkMemberoftheCouncilofCID MunicipalityofIdrija Mr.EmilFerjančičMemberoftheCouncilofCID IdrijaMunicipalMuseum Mr.AntonZelencMemberoftheCouncilofCID CID CurrentlybeingappointedPersons responsible for priority areas (partners)PriorityareaoftheIdrijaGeopark Organisation Name/function TasksandactivitiesStrategicplanningofthemunicipality’sdevelopment

MunicipalityofIdrija Mrs.MojcaRemškarPlaninc,Director

Managementandcoordination

Environmentalandgeoconservation

IdrijaMercuryMine Mr.MarkoCigale,Director

Naturalheritage,geosites,interpretation,education

Developmentof(rural)territory

DevelopmentAgencyofIdrijaandCerkno

Mrs.JožicaLazar,Director

Sustainabledevelopmentandruraldevelopment

Culturalheritage IdrijaMunicipalMuseum Mrs.IvanaLeskovec,Director

Protectionanddevelopmentofculturalheritage

Management of Idrija Geopark – CIDOrganisation Name Training-specialty TapeofcontactIdrijaHeritageCentre(IHC) Mr.DušanČernigoj Director:Organization,

managementandactionplan,coordination

Employee

Expert, secretarial/office technical staff of the Idrija Geopark within the scope of CIDOrganisation Name Training-specialty TapeofcontactIdrijaHeritageCentre(IHC) Mrs.AlenkaTomazin ProfessionalAssistant

forpromotion,marketingandsales

Employee

IdrijaHeritageCentre(IHC) Mrs.ZofijaKokalj Secretarial/officetasksandfinance

Temporarycontract

Expert staff (partners)MunicipalityofIdrija Mrs.MojcaGorjupKavčič Consultantforthe

GeoparkareaAssignedcontract

Mrs.TatjanaBedeneBenčina Environmentalprotectionandspatialplanning

Assignedcontract

Mrs.SanjaMarijaPellis Tourismdevelopment

Assignedcontract

Mrs.KarmenMakuc Ruraldevelopment AssignedcontractIdrijaMercuryMine Mrs.MartinaPeljhan Naturalheritage Assignedcontract

Mr.BojanRežun Geositeinterpretationandeducation

Assignedcontract

IdrijaMunicipalMuseum Mrs.IvanaLeskovec Culturalheritage AssignedcontractDevelopmentAgencyofIdrijaandCerkno

Mrs.AndrejaTrojarLapanja Sustainabledevelopment,projects

Assignedcontract

Mrs.DarjaLahajnar Ruraldevelopment,development

Assignedcontract

Mrs.MirkaRupnik TouristInformationCentre

Assignedcontract

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B1 LOCATIONOFTHEPROPOSEDGEOPARK

ThenominatedareaisdefinedinsectionA.TheGeoparklies between 13° 50´ E and 14° 08´ E and between45° 52´ Nand46°12´N.

B.GEOLOGICALHERITAGE

Fig.B1–GeologicalmapofIdrijaRegion(Čar,2010).DrawnbyStašaČertalič

N

TRIA

SSIC

UPP

ERM

IDD

LELO

WER

UPPE

RM

LOW

ERNo

rian a

nd Rh

aetia

nCa

rnian

Ladi

nian

Anisi

anSc

ythi

anU

PPER

syste

mse

ries

stage

bed

thick

ness

(m)

TERT

IARY

-100

030

0-50

0<1

20<2

50>8

0025

00-

600

300

>600

20-

400

50-3

1013

00<1

20

CARBO

NIFERO

USPE

RMIA

NCR

ETAC

EOU

S

65 mio

251 mio

201 mio

299 mio

359 mio

JURASS

IC

light grey limestone(rudist limestone)

EROSIONAL SURFACES

EROSIONAL SURFACES

dark grey limestone(Requienia limestone)

white limestone

�ysch

Rock Column of the Idrija Geopark

bedded dolomite

predominant shale

predominant conglomerate

black limestone and dolomite

dolomite with mica

various marlstones and limestones

grey dolomite

cordevolian white dolomite and limestone

diabasetusshale and sandstone(skonca beds)

prevalent sandstone and conglomerate

megalodontidlimestone

light grey dolomite

alteration of dierent rocks: conglomerate and sandstone

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B2 GENERALGEOLOGICALDESCRIPTIONOFTHEPROPOSEDGEOPARK

GeologicalinvestigationshavebeenconductedintheId-rijaregionforthepast250years,which isat leastonehundredyearslongerthaninotherregionsofSlovenia,soitisnotsurprisingthatthefoundationsofSloveniangeology were laid in Idrija (Čar, 2010). The reason forthisistheIdrijamine,thesecondlargestmercuryminein the world. The mine was discovered in 1490 and,throughout its five-hundred-year history, has been thesubject of professional and scientific studies as well asa rich source of income to its owners. Due to the eco-nomicsignificanceandgeologicalcomplexityoftheoredeposit,aswellasforthepurposeofensuringitsopti-mal exploitation, distinguished mining, geological andmetallurgical experts visited the Idrija ore deposit asearlyasinthe18thandfirsthalfofthe19thcenturies.Fromthesecondhalfofthe19thcenturyuptotheFirstWorldWar,importantgeologistsoftheViennaGeologi-calInstitute,amongothersLipold,Kosmat,KropačandPilz,wereactiveinIdrija.Inthe1960'sand1970's,theIdrijageologicalschoolwasformed(Mlakar,Čar,Placer,Čadež).Thegeologistswhoweremembersoftheschoolexplainedtheoriginoftheoredepositanditsextremelycomplexstructure,geologicallymappedindetailtheen-tire Idrija area and its broader surroundings, and lateralsoinfluencedinvestigationsthroughoutSlovenia.TheconsequenceofthiswasthattheIdrijaregionwas,fromthegeologicalaspect,oneofthemostinvestigatedareasinSlovenia(Čar,2010).

Carboniferous, Permian, Triassic, Cretaceous andPaleocene-EocenerockscanbefoundintheIdrijaregion.ExtensivetectonicmovementsbeganinMiddleAnisianand lasted throughout the Middle Triassic period. Thepaleogeographic conditions were highly complicated inthisperiod,duringwhichthefamousIdrijamercuryoredeposit was formed. Owing to extensive and complextectonic events, the calm carbonate sedimentation wasinterrupted in Upper Cretaceous. Typical flysch rockswereformedintheforelandbasin.

IntheMioceneEpoch,thepushingoftheAdriaticmi-croplate under the European plate first transformed therocksoftheIdrijaregionintoahugerecumbentfold.Owingtofurtherdisplacements,thefoldwascutupintoindividu-alnappesandintermediatenappehorses,whichmovedinsouthwestdirectionalongthethrustplatesforasmanyasseveraltenkilometres.ThefinalstructureofIdrija'sterrainwas formed by numerous strong normal and then right-lateralfaults,whichthoroughlycomplicatedthegeologicalconditionsintheIdrijaregion(Mlakar,1969;Čar,2010).

Fig.B2–Stratigraphiccolumn

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2.1.GEOLOGICALDESCRIPTIONOFTHEIDRIJAREGION

2.1.1.Stratigraphicdata

Carboniferous

TheoldestrocksintheIdrijaregionaremorethan300millionyear-olddarkgreyPaleozoicclasticrocksofCar-boniferous age. There are alternating shales and mud-stonescontainingtinylensesofquartzsandstones,rare-lyconglomerates.

Permian

Lying discordantly upon Carboniferous beds are Mid-dlePermianquartzsandstonesandconglomerateswithtransitions into variegated shales and siltstones of thesocalledValGardenaformation.Theabove-mentionedclastic rocks are followed by Upper Permian, dark-grey,bituminous, stratified dolomites and stratified grey oralmostblacklimestonesrichinfossils.

Triassic

ThetransitionfromthePaleozoictotheMesozoicerainthe Idrija region was gradual and continuous. Permiancarbonaterockspassintovariegated,developedrocksofLowerTriassicScythianage.Theseveralhundredmetre-thicksuccessionofScythianrocksbeginswithstratifiedgreymicaceousdolomitewithintercalationsofdolomite-quartz sandstones and interbedded marl intercalationscontinuouslypassingintolithologicallyrichlydevelopedbedsofvariegatedshale,siltstoneandcalcareoussand-stonewithlensesofoolitic limestone.Thehigher lyingoolitic horizons pass into poorly stratified grey dolo-mites,andtheseintomarlsandmarlylimestones,whicharetheyoungestScythianrocksintheIdrijaregion.

TheLowerAnisianstagesawthecontinuationofsta-blesedimentationandthe formationofacharacteristiclight grey, poorly stratified or unstratified dolomite. InthebeginningofUpperAnisian,approximately243mil-lion years ago, extensive displacements began to occur,withalternatingsectionsoflandandshallowwaters.Ero-sion washed away several hundred metres of older lay-ersonraisedblocks, leavingevenCarboniferousshales,theoldestrocksintheIdrijaregion,lyingonthesurface.Owingtothedescribedtectonicmovements,theMiddleTriassic Ladinian rocks were highly variegated and weremostlydepositeddiscordantlyonolderrocks,inthecaseof the IdrijaoredepositevendirectlyonCarboniferousshales.Alongsidethediverseandvariegatedconglomer-atesandsandstones,Ladinianrocksaredevelopedasbi-tuminousshales,siltstones,marlsandsandstones(upperSkoncahorizon).Alsofrequentavariouspyroclasticrockswithlensesofreeflimestonesandtuffswithrarediabaseand keratophyre intercalations. Special sediments char-acteristicoftectonicfaulttroughsbegantoforminthetectonic fault troughs. Owing to the complex tectonicconditions,thethicknessofLadinianbedschangescon-siderably–insomepartstheyaremorethan600mthick,whileinotherstheywerenotdepositedatall.

The Ladinian rocks are covered by white, grained, un-stratified, Upper Triassic Carnian Cordevolian dolomitewith intercalations of organogeneous limestone or blackthin-layeredlimestoneandgreydolomite.Several-hundred-metre-thick Julian-Tuvalian beds were deposited over theCordevoliandolomite.Theybeginwithtransitional,strati-fieddolomite,whichpassesintodarkgreylimestone.Thisisfollowedbyalowerclastichorizoncomprisedofvariegatedshales,siltstoneswithanthraciteintercalations,variegatedcalcareous sandstones and conglomerates. These are cov-eredbylaminatedandooliticmegalodontidlimestonewithfrequent remains of megalodontid shells. The upper clas-tichorizonis,byitscompositionandrockstructure,quitesimilar to the lower horizon. Calcareous sandstones withlensesofvariegatedcalcareousconglomeratearethemostfrequentrockintercalations.Grey,greenandburgundydol-omitemarlswithmarlydolomitelenses.

ThepassageofclasticCarnianrocksintoUpperTri-assicNorian-Rhaetianstratifieddolomiteisgradualandcontinuous.Thedolomite,whichisusuallydesignatedas'maindolomite',isathinlytomediumlystratified,darktolightgreycolouredrockwithscarceremainsofcellularlimestone. Interbeddedshaleormarl intercalationsarefrequentinthelowerpart,whilestromatoliteandoncol-itelevelscanbefoundhigherinthecolumn.

Jurassic

Owing to complex tertiary tectonic activity, JurassicrocksarenotpreservedintheIdrijaregion.

Cretaceous

Due to thrust tectonics, the entire profile of Lower Creta-ceouslimestoneintheIdrijaregioncannotbefound.Anap-prox. 300 m-thick carbonate horizon is comprised of darkgrey bituminous limestones with scarce intercalations ofdark grey, thin-layered, grained dolomite. In the surround-ingsofIdrijaandontheČrniVrhplateau,LowerCretaceousRequienialimestonegraduallypassesintoUpperCretaceous,darktolightgreyandwhite,unstratified,rudistlimestone.

Paleocene-Eocene

Upper Cretaceous limestone is interrupted in its upperpart by distinct erosional unconformity, above whichPaleoceneandEoceneflyschrocksbegantobedepositedapproximately 65 million years ago. Alongside the typi-calgreyish-greenshalesandmarls,quartzsandstonescanalsobefound.Lensesofcalcareoussandstonesandbrecciaappearintheserocks.Coarse-grainedtoblockcalcareousconglomeratescanbefoundinrarespotsalongthebase,andcalcareousconglomerateshigherintheprofile.FlyschrocksaretheyoungestsedimentaryrocksintheIdrijare-gion,andcanbefoundinIdrija'stectonicwindows.

Recent deposits

TheslopesalongtheupperIdrijcaRiverandonStopnikarecoveredwithextensiveboulderrockfallsections,aswellasoccasionalsmallpatchesof lateraldebris.SmallriversidegravelterracescanonlybeobservedinBela,Id-rijaandinSpodnjaIdrija.

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1.2.Tectonics

TectonicactivityintheIdrijaregioncanbedividedintothefollowingstages:

MiddleTriassictectonics,

UpperCretaceous-Paleocenestratigraphicgap;

foldingandthrusttectonics;

Miocenenormalandpost-Miocenestrike-sliptectonics.

Triassic tectonics

UntiltheendofLowerAnisian,astablesedimentationprocess took place in the Idrija region and elsewherethroughout Slovenia. The disintegration of the Slov-eniancarbonateplatforminthebeginningofUpperAni-sianmarkedthebeginningofatectonicallyveryactiveperiod lasting fromMiddleAnisian toMiddleCarnian.This period is known as the Idrija Middle Triassic tec-tonicperiod.TheperiodofMiddleTriassictectonicswascharacterised by normal tectonic activity. At that timetheIdrijaterritorywascutbyseveralgroupsofmoreorlessstrongnormalfaults.

Along the normal faults, individual blocks werestronglylowered,whileotherswereonlyslightlyloweredorraisedintoblocksoflandduringthegeneralrisingofterrain.Around750moflayerswereerodedonsomeofthe raised blocks (Čar, 1985, 1990). Anisian, Scythian,Permian and even Carboniferous rocks were removedbythedepositingofvariousLadinianrocksonvariousolder rocks. The strongest and deepest faults built uptheoredeposit.ItwasherethattheIdrijaMiddleTriassictectonic fault troughandthemercuryoredepositwereformed.Theverticaldisplacementcomponentoffaultswasfrom600to900m(Čar,1990).

MiddleTriassicnormaltectonicactivitycreatedthecomplicated palaeogeographic conditions that are alsostronglyreflectedinthepresent-daygeologicalstructureoftheterritory.TodaytheTriassicstructuresruninthedirectioneast-west.

Upper Cretaceous-Paleocene stratigraphic gap

Tectonic movements in Upper Cretaceous caused thedisintegration of the Dinaric Carbonate Platform, andtheformationofflyschrocksintheforelandbasin.Frac-

turesandweakfaultsofvaryingdirectionsinUpperCre-taceous limestone can be observed from this period inIdrija'stectonicwindows.Extremeerosionalunconform-itycanbefoundbetweentheselimestonesandEocene-Paleoceneflyschrocks.(Čar,2010).

Folding and thrust tectonics

Accordingtoexistingdata(Placer,1999;Vrabec&Fodor,2006), folding and thrusting occurred in the Idrija terri-toryinUpperEoceneandcontinuedinLowerandMiddleOligocene.Firstahugerecumbentfoldwasformedwhich,undersubsequentpressures,wascutupbystrongthrustplates. Thrusting moved in the direction north-east tosouth-west.AthruststructuretypicalofwesternSloveniawasformed.LyinginthedeeperbasementoftheIdrijare-gionarerocksoftheHrušicanappe,abovewhicharefirsttheKoševniknappehorse,followedbytheČekovniknappehorseandtheinverselylyingrocksoftheKanomljanappehorse,allofwhicharecoveredbyrocksoftheTrnovonappe.

Thecomplexfoldingandextensivethrustingstrongly'mixedup'therocks.NowhereintheIdrijaregioncananysectionbefoundwithanormalstratigraphicsequenceoflayers from Carboniferous to Eocene. Eocene-Paleoceneflyschlayersareexposedindeepvalleys,whilethehigh-estridgesareinseveralplacesbuiltofScythian,PermianandevenCarboniferousbeds.Thrustingandsubsequenterosion created a number of interesting tectonic phe-nomena:varioustectonicwindowsandtectonichalf-win-dows,aswellastectonicklippesandhalf-klippes.Howev-er,thestructurallymostimportantandgeologicallymostinterestingarethehugeIdrijatectonicwindows,suchastheStrugsingletectonicwindowintheIdrijcaRiverval-ley,theBevksingletectonicwindowinthevalleyoftheNikovastream,andtheBratušandKanomljatripletec-tonicwindow.InparticulartripletectonicwindowsareararephenomenonintheareaoftheSouthernAlps,andthereforerightlyattractconsiderableattention.

LyinginthebaseofbothsingletectonicwindowsareUpperCretaceousrudistlimestonesthatareconfinedontopbyerosionalunconformity,andoverlainbyEocenePaleoceneflyschrocks.TheseflyschrocksarecoveredbyLower Cretaceous and Upper Cretaceous limestones oftheKoševniknappehorsethathadbeentornfromtheHrušicanappeinthebasement.LyingabovetheCreta-ceouslimestonesofbothtripletectonicwindowsisUp-per Triassic Norian-Rhaetian bedded dolomite of the

Fig.B3–ThruststructureoftheIdrijaregion(Čar,2010)

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Čekovnik nappe horse, overlain by variegated Carbon-iferous, Permian, Scythian, Anisian, Ladinian and Car-nianrocksof theKanomljanappehorse inoverturnedposition.Alloftheabove-mentionedthrustunitsfinallycovertherocksoftheTrnovonappeinnormalposition(Mlakar,1969;Placer,1973;Čar,2010).

Miocene normal and post-Miocene strike-slip tectonics

Owing to extensive occurrences in the area of thepresent-dayPannonianbasinandintheCarpathians,thetensilestresses thatdominatedtheSlovenianterritoryin Middle Miocene ran in the direction north-east andsouth-west.Thisresultedintheformationofhugenor-malfaultswithstrongsubsidenceofnorth-eastblocks,includingthetwolargestfaultsintheIdrijaregion:theIdrijafaultandtheZalafault.Alongsidethesefaults,thenorth-eastblockswereloweredbyapprox.450m.

DuetotheunderthrustingofIstria(Adriaticmicro-plate) tothenorthandnorth-westbelowSloveniaandwestern Croatia from late Miocene onward, the stressconditions in Slovenia changed intensively. Compres-siveforcesbecamepredominantinthedirectionnorth-south.Underthrustzoneswere formedalongthekarstboundary. Older normal faults with 'Dinaric' directionwerereactivatedasright-lateralfaults.Numerousparal-lelDinaricfaultswerealsoformed,whichstronglycom-plicatedthegeologicalconditionsinIdrija(Čar,2010).

Idrija fault

The strongest fault in the Idrija region and one of thelargest faults intheSouthernAlps is the famous Idrijafault.Thefaultoriginated inCarnianandruns intypi-

calDinaricdirection,cuttingacrosstheentireterritoryofSloveniaallthewaytotheareaofVelebitinCroatia.On Slovenian territory, the Idrija fault can be tracedfrom the alpine meadow of Predolina (1655m) acrossthe Učja River valley to Žaga, and then along the SočaRiver valley to Most na Soči, and from here along theIdrijcaRivervalleytoTrebuša,alongtheHotenjavalleyandacrosstheOblakovvrhpass,andthenalongtheval-ley of the Kanomljica stream and across the hamlet ofKanomeljsko razpotje to Idrija. The fault leaves Idrijaalong the valley of the Ljubevščica stream and crossesHotenjskopodolje,PlaninskopoljeandCerkniškopoljetoČabrankaandtheupperKolpaRiver.Throughoutitscourse,thefaultismorphologicallywell-definedandap-pearsonsatellitephotosasadistinct,straightline.Thewidthof thenarrowfaultzonevaries,and isonly5 to10minsomeparts,reachingseveral10metresinotherparts.Thebroaderfaultzoneisevenupto2kmwideinsomesections.Thedislocationofrocksinthefaultzoneledtotheformationofdistinctvalleys,saddlesandlevel-lings.ExceptfortheUčjaRivervalley,the120km-longrouteofthefaultzoneacrossSloveniaisnotdirectlyvis-ibleanywhere.Itwas,however,crossedseveraltimesintheIdrijamine.Thedisplacementofthenorth-eastblockinalengthofapprox.2500minthedirectionsouth-eastalong the Idrija fault has been proven (Mlakar, 1969;Placer,1981,1982).

1.3.Idrijaoredeposit

TheIdrijaoredeposit is thesecond largestoredepositin the world in terms of mercury concentration, beingsecond only to Almadén in Spain (Mlakar, 1974). ButtheIdrijaoredepositisnotonlya'giant'amongmercury

Fig.B5–AlongtheIdrijafault,theoredepositwascutoffanddisplacedby2.5km.

Fig.B4–CourseoftheIdrijafault

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deposits;ithasgainedinternationalreputeandprofes-sionalsignificanceprimarilybecauseoftheconditionsinwhichitwasformed,itsexceptionallyrichandunusualores,geochemicalandmineralogical compositions,andthe extraordinary transformations into its extremelycomplex present-day state. At first glance, its presentstructure gives the appearance of inexplicable and un-solvablegeological'chaos'.Forthisreason,considerableattention has also been attracted by the investigative'exploits'ofgeologistswhoreconstructedtheoriginanddevelopment of the ore deposit through its geologicalhistory. The first geological data on the Idrija ore de-posit were collected in the mid 18th century. Investi-gations of the ore deposit in the 'modern' period havebeen inprogress–withone interruption intheperiodoftheItalianoccupation–forasmanyasonehundredandthirtyyears, i.e. fromapprox.1874to2004,whenthe last (so far!) scientific findings on the geochemicalcompositionandcircumstancessurrounding theoriginofIdrija'smercuryoreswerediscoveredandrecorded.

TheeventsaccompanyingtheformationoftheTrias-sicstructureoftheoredepositandvariousmercuryores,aswellasthetransformationoftheformeroredepositstructure into its present state, represent a geologicalparticularityofinternationalsignificance.

Formation of the ore deposit

The transformation of the Triassic structure of the oredepositintoitspresentstatecannotbeexplainedinsim-pletermsowingtotheextensiveandcomplicatedeventslinked to the transformation of the entire area of theSouthernAlps,andofcourseSlovenianterritory.DuetostrongTertiarytectonicactivity,individualchunksofrock

firstbegantofold,forminganextensivenear-thrustfold.ThepartoftheEarth'scrustcontainingtheIdrijaMiddleTriassictectonicfaulttroughandthemercuryoredepositwasfirstconcave inshape,and latertransformedintoavertical fold. Folding resulted in fractures that causedpartsoftheoredeposittomove insouthwesterlydirec-tion.Thecontinuingpressurescausedthestructureoftheoredeposit togradually leansouthward(rotationoforedeposit). The old fractures ceased to be active and newfractureswerecreated,causingindividualpartsoftheoredeposit to shift northward. The final transformation ofthelargerecumbentfoldcontainingtheIdrijaoredepositinitsupperlimbresultedintheformationoffoldinglines,i.e. large and extensive, almost horizontal tectonic con-tactsalongsidewhichtheIdrijadepositwaspushedsome35kmtowardsthesouthwest,whereithasremainedtothisday.Anotherextensivesystemoffaultswasformedseveralmillionyearsago,whichincludedtheregionalIdr-ijaandZalafaults.Thesetwofaultscutthealreadygreatlytransformedmercuryoredeposit into individualblocks,

Fig.B6–GeologicalsectionoftheIdrijaoredeposit(Čar,1993)

Fig.B7–Richcinnabarore

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movingthemforwardfirstinverticalandtheninhorizon-taldirectiontothesoutheast(Čar,2010).Theresultoftheabove-describedeventsistheunique,'chaotically'formedpresent-daystructureoftheoredeposit.

Cinnabar ores

Idrija's cinnabar ores were formed in two ways, whichis unusual for mercury ore deposits. In the first meth-od,ore-bearingsolutions trickledacross the faultsandfractures through older rocks of the Idrija ore deposit– Carboniferous, Permian, Scythian and Anisian rocks.Thehotwatersdissolvedthesolubleminerals,primarilycalcite(CaCO3),leavingsmallholesofvaryingsizeintherocks. With the gradually decreasing pressure and thecoolingofthermalwaterfrom218°do160°C,mercury(Hg)andsulphur(S)fromtheore-bearingsolutionscom-bined to form cinnabar (HgS) or a noncrystallised cin-nabargel.Inthiswaythesmallholesintherocks,openfaultsandfracturesweregradually filledwithcinnabar(HgS).Iftherewasnotenoughsulphurpresent,nativemercurywasreleased(shalesimpregnatedwithmercurydroplets).Theoresformedinthedescribedmannerarecalledepigenetic cinnabar ores.Theseoresarecustomaryandhavebeendocumentedinothermercuryoredepos-itsaroundtheworld.UniqueandunknowntootherHgdepositsaretheso-calledsyngeneticores,orsedimentary cinnabar ores.Theirformationislinkedtotheoutpour-ingofhydrothermalwatersenrichedwithmercuryandsulphur,ordirectlywiththecinnabargel,intothethenexisting marshes where various sedimentary rocks,known under the name of Skonca beds, were simulta-neously formed (Mlakar, 1969). In this second phase of hydrothermal activity, enormous quantities of mercuryandsulphurbegantoflowalongthefaults.Likethefirsttime,richepigeneticcinnabaroreswereformedinolderrocks.Agoodpartof thecinnabargelswasdischargeddirectlyintothemarshes,formingrich(upto78%Hg)sedimentary ores (Mlakar and Drovenik, 1971). Due tothesmallinflowofsulphur,partoftheHgremainedinits elemental form, creating ore-bearing deposits withnativeHgprimarilyintheCarboniferousshales(shalesimpregnatedwithnativemercurydroplets),Skoncabeds(Mlakar,1969;MlakarandDrovenik,1971,Čar,2010),andpartlyalsoinsomeotherrocks.

The Idrijaoredeposit liesdirectlybelowthe townofIdrijaandextends inthedirectionNW-SE.It isapproxi-mately1500mlong,300-600mwideand450mdeep.Ap-proximately700kmofshaftshavebeenexcavatedon15levels,where158orebodieswerefound,ofwhich141con-taincinnabar(14orebodieswithmostlysyngeneticmin-eralisationand127withepigeneticmineralisation).Nativemercuryispredominantintheremaining17orebodies.

ThenamesgiventotheseexceptionallyrichIdrijacin-nabaroreswerechosenprimarilyonthebasisoftheircol-our,structureandmercurycontent,andlessonthebasisoftheircomposition.Therichestoreswerenamedjeklenka(steelore),opekovka(brickore),jetrenka(liverore),andko-ralna ruda(coralore).AmongtheoresspecifictotheIdrijaoredepositarekarolioreorkarolijevka,variationsofsedi-mentary ores,andtheso-calledshale ore containingahighpercentageofnativemercury.Basedonthepercentageofmercuryinores,minersandmetallurgistsdividedores(forpractical reasons) as follows: jeklenka (high mercury con-tent), very rich ore, rich ore, and poor ore or bašperh.

Morethan28mineralsoftheIdrijaoredepositcon-tribute to the diversity of Idrija's subterranean world,among which the most important are: cinnabar (HgS),metacinnabar (HgS),epsomite (MgSO4.7H2O)intheformofstalactitesorfibres,aspecialandraremineral–idrialit (C22H14),asecondarymineral–kaolinit(inbedsofupto15metres),andrichlycolouredmelanterite (FeSO4.7H20).

2.2GEOMORPHOLOGY

ThemaincharacteristicoftheIdrijahillsisasharpmor-phological cut thatwas formed in thestrong andwidefaultzoneoftheIdrijafault.Thesecondbasicgeomor-phological characteristicof Idrija territory is thevalleyoftheIdrijcaRiveranditsunusualcourse,whichispri-marilytheresultoflithologyandinsomepartsalsooftectonicactivity.

TheIdrijafaultisoneofthestrongestfaultsinthere-gionof theSouthernAlps,whichdivides the Idrijahillsinto two morphologically extremely variegated geotec-tonicblocks.ThemaincharacteristicsofthenortheasternKrnice-Masore block is a long, on average approx. 1000m-highridgerunning inthedirectionNW-SE. Itbeginsin Dolenja Trebuša, continues across Utre and Vrhovec

Fig.B8–Colourfulcinnabarcrystal Fig.B9–Epsomite

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(1079m,includingLokvarskivrh),andendsonthesmalluplandplainof IdrijskeKrnicewiththehighestpeakofMt.Jelenk(1107m).Onthenorthside,numerousmor-phologicallystrongravinesarecutintotheKrniceridge.Themostprominentamongthemarethevalleysof theOtuškaravineandSevnica.OntheothersideoftheIdri-jcaRivervalleyliesthebeautiful,friendlyworldoftheLe-dineplateau,formedduringtheoccurrenceofnumerousMiddleTriassicfracturesinthedirectioneast-west.Thesefractures continue in the direction of Spodnja Idrija. Intheirfaultzones,theSpodnjaIdrijcabasinwasformedbyrapidandunusualmeanderingoftheIdrijcaRiver.TheLe-dineplateaudividestheOsojnicastreamfromVrsnik,andŽirovnicafromtheextensiveDolska–Zavraškaplateau.

The geotectonic block of the Idrija hills (in a nar-rowsense) lyingonthesouthwesternsideoftheIdrijafault zone has a different geomorphological character.ThesharpridgeofMačkove laze,which isconfinedonthesouth-westsidebythewildandpicturesqueGačnikgorge and its numerous waterfalls, broadens out atStržnikar into the vast and diversified Vojsko plateau.Theplateau-coveredworldbeginsonthenorthwestsidewiththeexposedviewingpeakofHudournik(1148m),andontheothersidebytheviewingpeakofKotlovskivrh(1168m).Onthenortheastside,theVojskoplateaudescendsalmostprecipitouslyforapprox.450mintothefracturevalleyoftheKanomljicaRiver.

Thevariegatedworldof theUpper IdrijcaRiverandthe Belca stream represent a special geomorphologicalunit.Theterritoryofthisunitisclosedinonthenorth-eastsidebythesouthernslopesofRazori,VodonosandČekovnik.Theextensive,sunnyslopeshavebeenshapedalongtherelativelysteeplyfallinglayersofMiddleTrias-sicLadinianrocks,whiletothesouthwesttheworldoftheupperIdrijcaRiverisconfinedbythenortheasteredgeoftheTrnovoforest.Theso-called'sunnyshelf'ofČekovnikbetweenBlaškandBelapeak,aswellasthesmalluplandplains of Pšenk and Gladke skale, were formed along

thefoldinglinebetweenthelimestonesoftheKoševnikhorseandthedolomitesoftheČekovnikhorse.

ThesoutheastpartoftheIdrijahillsisrepresentedbytheextensive,karstifiedČrnivrhplateauinthebroadersense.ThecentrallevellingofČrnivrhplateauandZa-dlog were formed along the nappe plane between the'maindolomite'oftheČekovnikhorseinthebasementandtheNorian-RhaetiandolomiteoftheTrnovonappe.TheworldofgableendvalleysandkarstdepressionsinLomewasformedonflyschrocksoftheHrušicanappe.TheČrnivrhplateaudescendsacrossthePredgrižeridgeinto the Hotenjsko podolje near Godovič, which wasformedinahighlydisturbedandloweredblockofrocksbetweentheIdrijaandZalafaults.

2.3THEKARST

The richly developed and often somewhat specific karstphenomenaintheIdrijaregionarethereflectionofcom-plexrockcomposition,aswellastectonicandmorphologi-calstratification,ofthehighlyvariegatedIdrijaregion.Inabroadersense,thekarstterritoryinIdrijamaybedividedintothehigh karstandthesolitary karst,whichincludestheother»nonkarst«territoryintheIdrijaregion(Čar,2010).

The high karst comprises the area of Pevec, IdrijskiLog, Zadlog, the central part of the Črni vrh plateau,PredgrižandLom,aswellaspartofHotenjskopodoljenear Godovič. It continues southward and westwardalongtheboundaryoftheTrnovoforest,JavornikandHrušica. Owing to the geological conditions existingon the other side of the Idrijca River valley, the highkarstpassesintoshallower limestone karstatZagrebenc,GladkeskaleandthevalleyoftheNikovastream.Fromthe geological aspect, the high karst and the shallowerlimestonekarstarebuiltofLowerandUpperCretaceouslimestonesoftheKoševnikhorseandUpperCretaceousrudist limestoneoftheHrušicanappe,whichcomestolightinBevk'stectonicwindowandintheStrugtectonic

Fig.B10–ScenicviewoftheIdrijahills

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window. Typical of the high karst are deeply karstifiedcarbonate rocks, particularly limestones, with all thecharacteristicsofclassicalkarst.Onthesurface,numer-oussinkholescanbe found invariousgeological struc-tures (Čar, 2001), whereas the underground karst ischaracterisedbydeepabysses,occasionalsubhorizontalshortcaves,aswellasshortsinkingstreamsandswal-lowholes('coveredkarst')alongthethrustedges.Specialmentionshouldbemadeofthe400m-deepHabeshaft,the famous boiling spring of Divje jezero (Wild Lake),andthepowerfulPodrotejasprings.

AlltheremainingpartsoftheIdrijaterritorywherethehighkarsthasnotdevelopedisformallyclassifiedasthe»nonkarst«world,butcertainindividualorgroupkarstphenonema found here are classified as solitary karst.Thistypeofkarstisusuallydevelopedinlimestonesanddolomitesofvaryingagefoundinthemiddleofimper-meable rocks (shales, calcareous sandstones, etc). Thesize and development of karst phenomena depend ongeological conditions, i.e. the petrographic features ofrocks, thickness of permeable rocks, tectonics, hydro-logicalconditions,andclimaticconditions.ThesolitarykarstismoreextensivelydevelopedonKrnice,theLedi-naplateau,Vojskoplateau,andinSrednjaKanomlja.

B3 LISTINGANDDESCRIPTIONOFGEOLOGICALSITESWITHINTHEPROPOSEDGEOPARK

TheareaoftheIdrijaGeoparkhasanextremelydiversegeologicalstructureasregardsthevarioustypesofrocksand their age, numerous tectonic elements, fossil andmineralsites.Inmanycasesthegeologicallysignificantlocationsoverlapwithothers,mostfrequentlywithgeo-morphologicalorhydrologicalnaturalphenomena(karstcaves,gorges,springs,…).Thegeodiversityof theareaanditsrichgeologicalheritageisevidentinthecomplexnaturalphenomena.Thereare52sitesonthelistofgeo-logicalsiteshavingthestatusofnaturalheritage,andarethusensuredspecialsystemprotectionintheIdrijaGe-opark(source:NatureConservationAtlas),butnotallofthemaresuitableforpresentation.Tothisdatabasewehavealsoaddedthosegeologicalsitesthathavenospe-ciallegalprotection,butarehighlyinterestingandsuit-ableforpresentationtothepublic.Frombothoftheselistsandotherextensiveinformation,wehaveselected41 sites that represent the most important geologicalandgeomorphologicalheritageoftheGeopark.Togetherwiththeviewpoints,thereare47geositesthataresuit-ableforpresentationtothepublic.Thefinalselectionofthese sites is listed in Table 1 with the following data:name,briefdesignation,natureprotectionstatusI,sortofnaturalheritageII,anduse/purposeIII).Abbrevia-tionsarespecifiedforI,IIandIII.

I.Natureprotectionstatus

1.a. Protected areas (P)

landscapepark(P-LP),

naturalmonument(P-NM).

1.b. Natural heritage (NH),

naturalheritageofnationalimportance(NH-nat),

naturalheritageoflocalimportance(LH-loc).

1.c. European regulations – the areas of Nature 2000 (N2000).

II.Sortsofnaturalphenomena

geological(Geol),

geomorphological(Geom),

geomorphologicalunderground(Geomu),

hydrological(Hydr),

ecosystem(Ecos),

botanical(Bot),

zoological(Zool),

dendrological(Dend).

III.Use/Purpose

educationalsites(Edu)–sitesthatwebelievetobesuitablefortheinterpretationofnaturalsciencesonvariouslevels,andarethereforeappropriateforeducationtrailsforschools,fieldexercisesforuniversities,etc.,

scientificsites(Sci)–sitesthataresuitablefortheinterpretationofnaturalsciencesonascientificlevel,aswellasforfurtherscientificresearchandanalyses,

appropriatesitesfortheuseofgeotourism(Tour)–sitesthataresuitableforthematictrailsforvisitorsoftheGeopark,families,forrelaxinginnature,etc.

viewpoints(Vwp)–popularpeaksofferingpanoramicviews,

historical(Hist)–inthevicinityofhistoricalsiteswherevisitorsbecomeacquaintedwiththeuniquehistoryoftheregion,

archeological(Arch)–sitesrelatedtoarchaeology.

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Table2–Geologicalsites

Nameofsite DescriptionNature

protectionstatus

Sortofnatural

phenomena

Use/purpose

GEOSITES

1IDRIJAOREDEPOSIT

Acomplexgeologicalphenomenonwithmercu-rymineralisation,inwhichthemainoremineraliscinnabar.ItisbuiltofCarboniferous,Permian,Scythian,Anisian,LadinianandCarnianrocks.AparticularityoftheIdrijaoredepositaretherichsedimentaryoresandnativemercury.

InternationalP-LP(part),NH-nat

Geol Edu,Sci,Tour,Hist

2ANTHONY'SMAINROAD

Anthony'sMainRoadistheoldestpreservedpartoftheoredepositthathasremainedac-cessibleaftershutdownofthemine.Preservedin this site are extraordinary geological phe-nomena such as Carboniferous rocks miner-alisedwithmercury,MiddleTriassicerosionalunconformity, sedimentary and coral ores.Theoreextractionmethodsusedthroughhis-toryarepresented.

InternationalNH-nat

Geol Tour,Edu,Sci,Hist

3DIVJEJEZERO(WildLake)

Divjejezero(WildLake)isacomplexgeological,geomorphologicalandhydrologicalnaturalphe-nomenon,asitissimultaneouslyacave,springand lake. Alpine plants (Slovenian endemite(Primula carniolica)thriveonitssteepandcoldslopes, and its cave is home to the only Euro-peancavevertebrate-thehumanfish(Proteus anguinus). Its international historical signifi-canceislinkedtosuchfamousscientistsasSco-poli and Hacquet, broad-thinking researcherswhoworkedasphysiciansintheIdrijaMercuryMine.Itisarrangedasamuseuminnature.

InternationalP-LP,P-NM,NH-nat,N2000

Hydr,Geomu,Geom,Geol,Bot,Zool

Tour,Edu,Sci,

4 IDRIJAFAULT

TheIdrijafault isoneofthe largestfaults intheSouthernAlps,whichcutsacrosstheen-tireterritoryofSlovenia,continuingintoItalyonthenortheastside,andintoCroatiaonthesoutheastside.TheeventsoccurringalongtheIdrijafaultarealsoconnectedtotheIdrijaoredeposit,whichwascutoffanddisplacedfromthefault.Numerousearthquakesoccurredinthe broader fault zone. Remarkable views ofthe fault zone open up at Kanomeljsko Raz-potjeandHudournikontheVojskoplateau.

InternationalNH-nat(part),N2000(part)

Geol Sci,Edu,Hist

5ZALAFAULT,Podroteja

A distinctive and morphologically prominentfaultzonewhichseparatesavarietyofrocks.Thefaultzoneisdirectlyvisibleatseverallocations.Ithasanimportantroleinformingthemorphol-ogyoftheterraininthesurroundingsofIdrija.

P-LP(part) Geol Sci,Edu,Hist

6BEVKTECTONICWINDOW

LyinginthebaseofthissingletectonicwindowareUpperCretaceousrudistlimestones,whichareconfinedontopbyerosionalunconformityoverlainbyEocene-Paleoceneflyschrocks.

NH-nat Geol Sci,Edu,Tour,

20


7

STRUGSINGLETECTONICWINDOW

ExposedinthebaseofthewindowareUpperCretaceous limestones and Paleocene-EoceneflyschrocksoftheHrušicanappeoverlainbyanoverthrustplateofLowerandUpperCreta-ceouslimestone.ThisisasiteoftheCarniolanPrimrose(Primula carniolica).

P-LP,NH-nat,N2000

Geol,Geom,Bot

Sci,Edu,Tour

8

KANOMLJATRIPLETECTONICWINDOW

A triple tectonic window with three foldinglines that structurally separate four over-thrust units. A morphologically and tectoni-callycomplexphenomenonofregionalimpor-tance,coveringanareaof1.8km2.

NH-loc Geol Sci

9

BRATUŠTRIPLETECTONICWINDOW

The Bratuš tectonic window reveals threeoverthrustpackagesofrockslyingoneabovetheother.ThedeepestlyingaretheyoungestEoceneflyschrocks,andthehighestlyingareanoutcropoftheoldestCarboniferousshales.

NH-nat Geol Sci

10KRAMARŠCAGORGE

Anapprox.200m-longgorgeintheupperId-rijcaRivervalleywithaverynarrowentrance,partly impassable. Water has formed severalwaterfalls and pools in the gorge. The highwallsarebuiltofUpperTriassic,unstratified,grained dolomite. The area is cut by severalfaults running N-S. Site of the Bear's Ear (P. aurikula), Carniolan Primrose (P. carniolica),andtheIdrijaPrimrose(P. x venusta).

P-LP,P-NM,NH-nat,N2000

Geol,Geom,Hydr,Bot

Edu,Sci,Tour

11BEDROVAGRAPA

Ascenicgorgewithwaterfallsandrapids,alsoan exceptional geological locality. The entireprofile of Upper Triassic Carnian beds andpartofNorian-Rhaetian (main)dolomitearevisible. The clastic rocks contain numeroussediment textures and remains of Carnianshells (Myophoria and Pachicardia). A site ofendangeredandprotectedplantspecies.


Geol,Hydr,Geom,Bot

Sci,Edu

12TRATNIKLANDSLIDES

Exposed clastic Julian beds passing upwardsinto Cordevolian dolomite. Green and redsandstones frequently contain Jasper, fossilsof Pachicardia rugosa Hauer, Myophoria kefer-steini BittnerandLopha montiscaprilis Klipsteinshells. The well visible, exposed, folded, in-versely lyingbeds representa raregeologicalphenomenoninSlovenia.

P-LP,NH-nat,N2000

Geol,Geom,Hydr

Edu,Sci,Tour,Vwo

13

CARNIANSANDSTONESWITHFOSSILSINGAČNIK

Carnian sandstones pass in some spots intoconglomerate with red jasper and intercala-tions of nodular limestone. The limestonescontainthefossilremainsofshells,ostracos,corals, spines of sea urchins, algae, and rareremainsoflandplants.Wetlandscanbefoundbelowthebarrensandyhillsandridges.

NH-loc,N2000

Geol,Geom

Edu,Sci,Tour

14LADINIANBEDS

Alterationoftuffaceousclaystonesandmarl-stonesaswellasnodularsilicifiedlimestones.Several well-preserved ammonites have beenfoundhere.

P-LP,NH-loc,N2000

Geol Edu,Sci,Tour

21


15 DIABASEBasalt outcrop with calcite almonds and basaltbreccia(redandgreencoloured),whichbearwit-nesstovolcanicactivity230millionyearsago.

P-LP,N2000

Geol Sci,Edu,Tour

16

VOLCANICANDPYROCLASTICROCKS,Pisance

The surroundings of the Pisance farm arebuiltofpurple,redandgrassygreentuffsandtuffiteswithintercalationsofdiabaseanddia-basebreccia.

/ Geol Edu,Sci,Tour,

17

FOOTPRINTSOFUPPERTRIASSICREPTILES,MedvedjeBrdo

Fossil footprints of an unknown reptile. Thefootprints are on an almost horizontal, bed-dedsurfaceofUpperTriassicNorian-Rhaetian'main'dolomite.Asequenceoffivefootprintsisvisible.

NH-nat Geol Sci,Edu,Tour

18MEGALODON-TIDSHELLS,Knipajz

ProfileofCarnianbeds(claystonesandsand-stones)fromJulian-Tuvalian,anintermediatehorizon between Julian and Tuvalian, withnumerous remains of Triadomegalodon idri-anusmegalontidshells.

P-LP,N2000

Geol Edu,Sci,Tour

19

UPPERCRETA-CEOUSRUDISTLIMESTONE,VojskomemorialplateinStrug

FossilremainsofrudistshellsinbeddedrudistlimestoneofUpperCretaceousage.

P-LP,N2000

Geol Edu,Sci,Tour

20MORAINE,Hudopolje

Distinct terminal moraine, 5 to 10 m high,believed to date from the peak of Würmianglaciation. Intheterminalmoraine isa largeoutcroprevealingthestructureofthemorainehill. Fine gravel mixed with large blocks andfinemushymaterialsarepredominant.

P-LP,NH-loc,N2000

Geom,Geol

Edu,Sci,Tour

21TROHOVARAVAN

An extensive, dry valley with periglacial de-bris,atypicalalluvialdoline.Abotanicallocal-ity(Gentiana Clusii, Lilium bulbiferum).

NH-loc,N2000

Geom,Bot

Edu,Tour

22

UVALAANDSOLITARYBOULDERS,Kočevše

Solitary boulders of Anisian dolomite in akarstdepressionsunkenbyseveralmeters.

NH-loc,N2000

Geom Edu,Sci,Tour

23

BABJIZOBINTHEVALLEYOFTHEBELCASTREAM

Asolitaryboulderintheformofaseveralme-ter-highdolomitecolumninthevalleyoftheBelcastream.

P-LP,NH-loc,N2000

Geom Edu,Tour

24TOMAŽ'STABLE

Ahuge"rocktable"comprisedofathickrockplatesituatedonanarrowrockpillar.Aprod-uctoftectonicactivityanderosion.

NH-nat Geom,Geol

Edu,Tour

KARST AND HYDROLOGICAL PHENOMENA

25IDRIJCARIVERVALLEY

Theentirevalleyisaverynarrowandinsomepartsbarelyaccessiblegorgewithsteepcliffs.Numerous interestingplant species thrive inthe valley, including protected and endan-gered plants. Several historical and technicalmonumentsaresituatedinthevalley.

NH-nat,N2000

Geom,Hydr,Bot,Eko

Edu,Sci,Tour

22


26 SUHAIDRIJCA

RepresentsthelowerpartofČrnipotok,ator-rential stream. By its bedding, this is a specialtype of water channel that was formed at thecontact of dolomite and limestone. It runs be-neaththefaultintheSuhaIdrijcagorge.Visiblehereisbeddeddolomite(fromCordevolianup-wards),whichlaterallyalternateswithlimestoneofJulianagecontainingClypeina besici algae.


Geom Edu,Sci,Tour

27VALLEYOFTHEBELCASTREAM

The valley of the Belca stream is a narrowwatergaprunninginthedirectionoftheDi-naric Alps. Very steep cliffs rise up from thebottomofthevalley,inmanyplacesthesearevertical, overhanging walls. Several botanicalparticularitiescanbefoundinthevalley.Thisis home to the Soča trout. Several technicalmonumentsarepreservedinthevalley.

P-LP,NH-nat,N2000

Hydr,Geom,Geol,Bot,Zool

Edu,Sci,Tour

28 GAČNIK

Gačnik stream, right tributary of theTrebušica,withwaterfallsandprofilesofUp-per Triassic rocks and the fossil shells Myo-phora and Pachycardia, fossils of the bivalvemolluscSolenomorphora,andmarshmeadows.

P-NM(part),NH-nat,N2000

Hydr,Geom,Geol,Bot

Edu,Sci,Tour

29SPRINGSINPODROTEJA

AkarstspringlyingneartheconfluenceoftheIdrijcaandZalarivers.Waterisusedtosupplythetown.

NH-loc,N2000

Hydr Edu,Tour,Sci

30 DIVJIPOTOK

On the left bank of the Idrijca River abovetheklavže(waterbarriers)isastrongtectonicspring,Divjipotok.Thespringrisesatanalti-tudeof737mfromafissureinthedolomite.

P-LP,NH-loc,N2000

Hydr Edu,Tour

31 BUČKE

IntheriverbedaboveLajštarenaturalwaterpoolscalledbučke.Thesepoolsareformedinrockswithinclusionsofsoftermaterialsthatare easily carried away by water. The initialholebeginstobroadenanddeepenuntilsev-eralmeter-deephollowsareformed.

P-LP,N2000

Geom Edu,Tour

32WATERFALLATBIZJAK'SMILL

WaterfallatČrna,thelefttributaryofthePol-janskaSoranearPodklanec.

NH-loc Hydr,Geom

Edu,Tour

33PONORANDGORGEINKLAME

A barely accessible gorge in Klame locatedwithin the Kanomlja triple tectonic window.TheIdrijafaultrunsnearby.Duringlowwaterlevels,theKanomljicastreamdisappearsintoaswallowhole.

P-NM,NH-nat

Geol,Geom,Hydr

Edu,Sci,Tour

34

ANŽIČKOVEANDPAGONOVEPONIKVE

A typical example of underground streamsondolomite, formingpartofa complex geo-graphicnaturalarea,arareecosystem,habitatofendangeredplantandanimalspecies

NH-loc,N2000

Hydr,Geom

Sci,Edu,Tour

35SPRINGNEARŠINKOVČEVAŽAGA

Astrongkarstspringconnectedtothenearbycave.

P-NM,NH-nat

Geomu Sci,Tour

23


36CAVEABOVEKOBILA

Ahorizontalcavethatisalsoaboilingstream;after rainfall a mighty waterfall roars andflowsoutfromthecave,dischargingintotheIdrijcaRiver.

P-NM,P-LP,NH-nat,N2000

Geomu,Hydr

Sci,Edu,Tour

37HABEČKOVBREZEN

Thedeepestnaturalshaftinthemunicipalityof Idrija (400m), a true rarity because of itsnaturalbridgeattheentranceandthespringsintheshaft.WatercolouringhasshownthatwatersfromtheshaftflowtowardsthespringsatPodorotejaandWildLake.

P-NM,NH-nat,N2000

Geomu Sci,Edu,Tour

38SNEŽNAJAMACAVEBELOWŠTRANGEL

A step-like, inclined shaft. Occasionally usedforvisits.

NH-nat Geomu Edu,Sci,Tour

39KALARGLA-CIER

Thecaveis45mdeep,onthebottomofwhichisanopenareawhereiceremainsallyear.Theicewasexploitedinthepast.

NH-nat,N2000

Geomu Edu,Sci,Tour

40MATJAŽEVEKAMRE

Together with the Sora River, this labyrinthof caves represents a speleological site of re-gional importance. These are the remains ofanactivewatercavecarvedbytheSoraRiver.It ishometoseveral rareandprotectedcaveanimals,andapaleolithicstation.

NH-nat Geom,Geomu

Edu,Sci,Tour,Arch

41 ZADLOGZadlogisaspecialkarstpoljeformedentirelyondolomite.Itiscomprisedofvast,wetmead-owswithtypicalvegetationandfauna.

NH-loc,N2000

Geom,Bot

Edu,Sci,Tour

VIEWING POINTS

42 JAVORNIK

Javornik liesatanaltitudeof1241mand isthehighestpeakintheIdrijaGeopark.Onthehigherpartsofitssouthernslopes,fragmentsofdrygrasslandwithmountainfloraarepre-served. Habitat of the wood grouse. Pirnat'salpinehostelissituatedbelowthepeak.

NH-loc,N2000

Geom,Bot,Zool

Edu,Tour,Vwp

43 HUDOURNIKAviewingpointalongtheedgeoftheVojskoplateau.Asiteofendemicandprotectedplantspecies(Primula carniolica ..)

NH-loc Bot,Geom,Ecos

Edu,Tour,Vwp

44PRIGNEZDU(PR'KOLU)

Viewing point of the Julian and Kamnik AlpsandtheKaravankemountains.Inthevicinityisamemorialplatededicatedtothewoundedcom-batantsandstaffofthePavlaPartisanHospital.

N2000 / Vwp,Edu,Tour,Hist

45 VODONOSViewingpointoftheentirevalleyoftheUpperIdrijcaRiver–Bedrovagrapa,Kramaršca,andMrzlarupatotheČrnivrhplateau,Javornik.

P-LP,N2000

/ Vwp,Edu,Tour

46

HLEVIŠKAPLANINAMOUNTAINPASTURE

View of Idrijski Log, Mt. Javornik and theTrnovo Forest and the valleys of the IdrijcaRiver(Lajšt),BelcaandČekovnikstreams.ThenorthernslopesknownasSlanicearecoveredwith beech forests, occasionally mixed withsitesofyewtrees.Asiteofendemicandpro-tectedplantspecies(Primula carniolica, Rhodo-dendron hirsutum).

NH-loc Bot Vwp,Edu,Tour

24


Fig.B11–Mapofprotectedareas,geosites,culturalheritagesites,naturesites

andNatura2000.

N

Idrija scale 1 : 25.000

25


B4 DETAILSONTHEINTERESTOFTHESESITESINTERMSOFTHEIRINTERNATIONAL,NATIONAL,REGIONALORLOCALVALUE

4.1INTERNATIONALLYIMPORTANTGEOSITES

Theareaof the IdrijaGeoparkhas four internationallyimportant geological phenomena (adopted on ProGeocriterias):theIdrijaoredeposit,theIdrijafault,Antho-ny'sMainRoadandDivjejezero(WildLake).

Their importance stems from their regional dimen-sions,scientific,research,educationalandhistoricalvalue.

The IdrijaOreDeposit (1G) is internationally impor-tant and famous because of the complicated MiddleTriassic tectonic activity that led to its formation, theexceptional diversity of its rocks, remarkably rich andunusual sedimentary ores, geochemical conditions andmineralogical composition, as well as the complicatedtransformationintothepresent-daystate.Thesedimen-tarycinnabaroresareauniquemineralogical-geologicalphenomenonintheworld.Theywereformedduringsed-imentationinLadinianmarshland(Skoncabeds)directlybythesettlementofcinnabargel(gel-likeore)orbythedepositingofchalcedonyparticlessaturatedwithcinna-bar (sedimentary ore with sedimentary textures). Thegel-likeoresarenaturallyveryrich,containingevenupto78%mercury.AparticularityoftheIdrijaoredepositisalsotheappearanceofnativemercuryineconomicalquantities. The structure and formation of the ore de-posithasattractedenormousattentionfromSlovenianand foreign geologists for more than 150 years. Morethanfiftypapersonthistopichavealreadybeenwritten.The Idrijaoredeposit is thesecond largestoredepositintheworldbyitsquantityofmercuryinonespot,be-ing second only to the Spanish Almaden. Owing to itseconomicsignificancethroughoutitsfive-hundred-yearhistory, the ore deposit is also of exceptional technicalandhistoricalimportance.

Fig.B14–Sedimentcinnabarore

Fig.B15–Nativemercury

Anthony'sMainRoad(2G)istheoldestpreservedpartoftheshaftsoftheIdrijaMine.Afterthemine'sshutdown,it remained open as a tourist mine. In a specially pro-tectedsection,onlythenativemercurydropsarevisible,whichisanexceptionalrarityonaninternationalscale.Seven geological sections of international professionalandscientificimportancehavebeenrecordedintheareaofAnthony'sMainRoad.Anexceptionalgeologicalphe-nomenonistheMiddleTriassicerosionalunconformity,whichisvisibleatseverallocations.BetweentheCarbon-iferousrocksononesideandtheLadinianrocksontheotherside(kaoliniterocks,dolomiteconglomerate),some750metresofrocksofPermian,ScythianandAnisianagearemissing.This isdueto theerosionthatoccurred inMiddleTriassic(UpperAnisian),whentherocksthathadbeenformingforaround60millionyearswereremoved.Otherexceptionalphenomenaonaninternationalscaleare the Carboniferous and Ladinian pyroclastic rocksmineralisedwithnativemercury,beddedore intuffites,and coral ore (brachiopod of the genus Discina), whosefossilshellsandcoreswerereplacedbycinnabar.

WildLake(3G) isacomplexgeological,geomorphologicaland hydrological natural phenomenon. Its exceptionalityis its geological structure and structural conditions, theextensity of submerged pit shafts, and the morphologi-cal shapeof thecauldron-like lake.Duringhighwaters itspewsoutasmanyasseveraltencubicmetresofwaterpersecond,creatingamightyandatthesametimetheshort-estSlovenianriverbeforeflowingintotheIdrijcaRiver.Itstotaldischargeareacoversmorethan70km2.Duringlowwatersanddrought,itappearsasaromanticminiaturelakesqueezedbelowamightylimestonewall.Divershavesofarinvestigatedthesunkenshaftsinalengthof462manduptoadepthof160m,andtheirexplorationsarecontinuing.Thrivingonthesteepandcoldcliffsarealpineplantssuchas the Slovenian endemite, Carniolan Primrose (Primula carniolica),andtheonlyEuropeancavevertebrate,thehu-manfish(Proteus anguinus),livesinthenearbycave.WildLakeisthenorthernmosthabitatofthisimportantDinaricendemite.TheinternationalhistoricalimportanceofWildLakeislinkedtofamousresearchers,suchasJoannesAnto-niusScopoli(afterwhomtheplantspeciesScopolia carnioli-cahasbeennamed)andBalthasarHacquet(afterwhomtheplantspeciesHacquetia epipactishasbeennamed),knownasopen-mindedresearcherswhoworkedasphysiciansattheMercuryMineinIdrija.

26


Fig.B16–WildLakeandHumanfish(Proteus anguinus)

The Idrijafault(4G) isan incrediblystrongfault,oneofthestrongestintheSouthernAlps.ItrunsfromCroatiaacrosstheentireterritoryofSloveniaandcontinuesintoItaly.ItslengthonSlovenianterritoryis120kilometres.Giventhefactthatnumerousgeologicalandgeomorpho-logicalphenomenaarelinkedtoitsactivity,itisofexcep-tionalsignificanceforscienceandresearch.Thefaultwasformedintwophases.Initially,itwascreatedasanormalfaultandthenreactivatedasaright-lateralslipwithadis-placementof2.5kilometres.ItscourseacrossSlovenianterritoryismorphologicallyverydistinct,andappearsonsatellitephotosasaclear,straightline.

InTable1above,theimportanceofeachsiteisdesig-natedinabbreviatedforminthecolumnNatureprotec-tionstatus.

sitesofinternationalimportance(Int)–exceptionalsitesofinternationalimportancerepresentingararityonaninternationalscale,

sitesofnationalimportance(Nat)–sitesofimportanceonthenationallevelandprotectedbystateacts,

sitesoflocalimportance(Loc)–sitesofimportanceonthelocallevelandmostlyprotectedbylocalacts.

Locus typicus for minerals and fossils, some also named after Idrija

TheIdrijaMineisatypelocality(Locus typicus)forthemin-eral Idrialite (chemical formulaC22H14). It ismostoftendescribedasasoftmineralwaxaccompanyingmercuryorein the IdrijaMine. It isnormallygreenish-yellowto lightbrownincolourwithbluishfluorescence.Thisyellow-greenorganicmineralmostlyappearsinirregularformsorasacoating on jetrenka (liver ore). It was first described in1832,andhasinternationalandscientificsignificance.

Fig.B17–ViewfromtheHudournikinthefaultzoneoftheIdrijafault

Fig.B18–ThemineralIdrialite

27


Fig.B19–TheammoniteTirolitesidrianusHauer

Numerous fossils were scientifically described for thefirsttimeintheareaoftheIdrijaGeopark,andalsohavetheirtypelocality(Locus typicus)here.Theseincludetwonewtypesofammoniteswhosespeciesnamesaretakenfrom Idrija, Tirolites idrianus Hauer (Upper Scythian)and Trachyceras idrianumMojsisovics (Ladinium),andtwonewtypesofshellswhosespeciesnamesaretakenfromIdrija,PosidoniaidrianaMojsisovics(Carnian)andTriadomegalodonidrianusVégh–Neubrandt(Carnian).

Fig.B20–MegalodontidshellsTriadomegalodon idrianusVégh–Neubrandt

The IdrijaGeopark isalsothe locus typicusof twonewspeciesofbrachiopods,Lingula lipoldiStur(Carnian)and the shell Ostrea lipoldi Bittner (Carnian). Mentionshould also be made of two species of Middle Triassicflorathatwerescientificallydescribedforthefirsttime,Sagenopteris lipoldiStur(Ladinian)andChiropteris lipoldiStur(Ladinian).All fossilspeciesareof importancefor

internationalscientificresearch.TheLipoldsarenamedafter the firstSloveniange-

ologists,MarkoVincencLipold(1816-1883),alongtimeadministratoroftheIdrijaMine.Onthebasisofnumer-ous fossil remains of fauna and flora selected by Stur(1872),heanalysedtherocksinthesurroundingsofId-rijaandtheoredeposit.

ThesurroundingsofIdrijaarealsoknownformanyother fossils. Those found in Lower Triassic (UpperScythian)beds includetheammonitesTirolites carnioli-cus,gastropodsWerfenella rectecostata,andtheveryrareremainsofbrittlestars.

4.2NATIONALANDLOCALIMPORTANTGEOSITES

Nationalimportancehasbeendeterminedorrecognisedforthe»geosites«thatarerare,typical,orofimportanceforscientificresearchoreducationonthenationallevel.Their importanceanduse/purposeare indicated inab-breviatedformincolumnIII(Use/purpose)ofTable1.

Amongthemostprominentgeologicalparticularitiesare:

Tratniklandslides(13G)aresomeofthemostpicturesquegeologicalfeaturesoftheIdrijaregion.AppearinginthislandslidesarevariousCarnianclasticrocks,fromconglom-eratestoclaystones,includingsomeverybeautifulJasperconglomerates. Numerous sedimentary textures of vary-ingsizescanbeobservedintheclastites.Inbetweenthemarestratifiedornodularlimestoneswithinterbeddedmarlintercalationscontainingshellcores.Duetothevicinityoftheoverthrust,thebedshavebeentransformedintonu-merous foldsofvaryingsize,sothatmultiplepassingofbedsfromnormalintoinversepositioncanbeobserved.Bariteconcretionshavealsobeenfoundhere.

Fig.B21–Tratniklanslides

Skoncabeds(1G)areaparticularityofIdrija.TheywereformedinaLadinianfreshwatermarshlandwheresomeextremelyrichsedimentarycinnabaroresweresimulta-neously deposited. The Skonca beds are typically com-prised of dark brown or black sandstones, siltstones,claystones, marlstones and occasionally conglomeratesthat are rich in bituminous substances. In addition,freshwatermarlylimestonesandkaoliniterockscanalsobefoundhere.Thebedsarerichinplantfossilswhichsofarhavenotbeenthesubjectofresearch.

28


Fig.B22–PlantfossilsintheSkoncabeds

FootprintsofUpperTriassicreptiles(20G).Fivefossilfoot-printshavebeenfoundingreybeddeddolomiteofNorianage(UpperTriassic).Theyareapprox.12centimetresindiameter and separated from one another at equal dis-tancesof32centimetres.Thesequenceoffootprintsin-dicatesthatatwo-leggedlizardhadlivedhere220millionyearsagointheperiodofUpperTriassic.Thetracksareunfortunatelynotwellpreserved,sothattheanimalcan-notbepreciselydetermined.

Fig.B23–FootprintsofUpperTriassicreptiles

Idrija tectonic windows (9G, 10G, 11G,…), including theStrug single tectonic window in the Idrijca River val-ley,theBevksingletectonicwindowinthevalleyoftheNikovastream,andtheBratušandKanomljatripletec-tonicwindow.ParticularlytripletectonicwindowsareararephenomenonintheSouthernAlps,andthusrightlyarouse considerable attention and have scientific andeducationalimportanceonthenationallevelandinthebroaderareaoftheSouthernAlps.

Lower Cretaceous limestone (thrust package)

Upper Cretaceouslimestone (base)

Fig.B24–Thrustcontactsbetweentwolimestones

Bedrovagrapa(11G),ascenicgorgecarvedbyastream,featuresageologicalprofileoftheentirelithologicalde-velopment from Cordevolian, Julian, Tuvalian, and thelowerpartofNorian-Rhaetianmaindolomite.Thelitho-logicallyvariegated,steepslopesofthis1800metre-longgorge are built of dolomite, limestone, conglomerates,marls, and a variety of other colourful clastites. Theseclastite rocks have numerous sedimentation texturesthatarerelevantfortheinterpretationofthepalaeoen-vironment. Contributing to the geological diversity oftheareaarealsonumerousfossils,lumachellesofmega-lodontidandotherleadingandtypicalCarnianshells,inparticularMyophoriaandPachicardia.EvenolderLadin-ianpyroclasticanddiabaserockscanbefoundinthelow-erpartofthegorge,attheconfluenceoftheKramaršcaand Idrijca rivers. Karst phenomena can be traced incarbonatesections,waterfallsandrapidsarefrequentlyfoundinthegorge,andthevicinityisanimportantsiteofprotectedplantspecies.

Fig.B26–Bedrovagrapa

Fig.B25–Pelecypod(Myophoria kefersteini)

29

C1 CURRENTORPOTENTIALPRESSUREONTHEPROPOSEDGEOPARK

ThefactorsaffectingtheareaoftheproposedIdrijaGe-oparkaredividedintodevelopmentpressures,environ-mental pressures, natural disasters and risk prepared-ness,andvisitor/tourismpressures.

Developmentpressurescanbefurtherdividedintopres-surescausedbymininguptotheyear1995,whichbroughtadverseeffectsapartfromitspositiveeconomicbenefitsdur-ingthebusiestperiodsofthemine.TheeffectsofminingseenmainlyinthetownofIdrijaincludeadegradedenvironment(subsidenceabovethemine,cracksinbuildings,remainsofdeposited smelting residues,…). The most significant envi-ronmentalpressuresinIdrijaanditsnearbysurroundingsaremercurypollution,whichwascausedby long-termmining.Theemissionsofmercuryintotheenvironmentresultedinelevatedmercurylevelsinallpartsoftheenvironment,i.e.water,air,soil,sedimentsandvegetation.Thehighconcen-trationsintheearlyseventies,whenmercuryproductionwasthe highest, dropped significantly after the mine was shutdownandistodayconsiderablylower.

Another significant pressure is industrial develop-ment,whichbeganin1970.Animportantpressurefac-tor isalsourbandevelopment,wherediscrepanciesbe-tweentheinhabitantsandthepreservationofheritagecanoccur.Thus,equalaccessibilitytothecommongoodandknowledgewiththeaidofmoderninfrastructure,aswellasbalancedandpolycentricdevelopmentofurbansettlements accompanied by prudent utilizations andsustainabledevelopmentmustbeconsidered.

Dissension does occur in rural areas, especially inconnection with agricultural areas on karst plateaus,where farmers fertilize their crops for a better harvestandthusthreaterthegroundwater(duetointensivecropfertilisation).

Geositesdonotriskbeingdestroyedordegradedbe-causeoftheconstructionofroadsandbuildings.Buildingconstructionisprohibitedintheprotectedarea(Zgorn-ja Idrijca Landscape Park). Another problem is also thegrowingofnewtreesthatcoverthesurfaceandchangethelandscape.

Theassessmentofthreatsposedbynaturaldisastersisbasedonyearsofexperience.SuchdisastersinIdrijaare mainly caused by: subsidence, earhquakes, storms,landslidesandfirehazards.

As regards tourism pressures, the municipality hasa large number of transit tourists in summer, but lesstouristvisitsintheotherpartsoftheyear.Asnewvisi-tors are bound to appear in upcoming years, advancedbookingofaccomodationwillbenecessary.

In winter, the limited and variable snow cover hasnotbeenfavourablefortheconstructionofresortsandski-liftfacilities.TheonlyexceptionsaretheVojskoandČrni Vrh plateaus, where excellent ski runs are main-tainedforbeginnersandfamilyskiing.Bothplateausarealsoknownfortheirexceptionalcross-countrytrails.

C2 CURRENTSTATUSINTERMSOFPROTECTIONOFGEOLOGICALSITESWITHINTHEPROPOSEDGEOPARK

TheNatureConservationAct(NatureConservationAct– official consolidated text (Official Gazette of the Re-publicofSlovenia,nos.96/04–ZON-UPB2and61/06–Zdru-1)dividesthecompetencesintheareaofnatureprotectionbetweenthestateandlocalauthorities.Theprotectionofbiodiversityandnaturalheritageofnation-al importancearewithinthecompetencesofthestate.Sitesofnational importancearethosenaturalheritagesites that are of international or great national impor-tance.Thedeterminationof the importanceofnaturalheritageasnationallyorlocallyimportantisregulatedbytheRulesonthedesignationandprotectionofvaluablenatural features (Official Gazette of RS, nos. 111/04,70/06,and93/10).Thisactalsospecifiestheprotectionregimesandpoliciesaimedatconservingnaturalherit-age.TheIdrijaGeoparkhas266naturalheritagesitesofnationalimportance.Amongtheseareallthemostfamousnatural phenomena representing the most important

C. GEOCONSERVATION

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parts of nature and all 225 underground caves in theGeopark.PursuanttotheCaveProtectionAct,allkarstcavesinSloveniahavethestatusofnaturalheritageofnational importance. However, many natural phenom-ena in the Geopark are of local importance, and theirprotectioniswithinthecompetencesoftheMunicipal-ityofIdrija.Thecompetencesofthemunicipalityrelatetotheprotectionofnaturalheritageoflocalimportance,whichincludestheplanningandadoptionofprotectionmeasures,aswellaspopularisationoftheprotectionofnaturalheritageoflocalimportance.

TheNatureConservationActverypreciselyregulatestheprotectionofnaturalheritage,determinesitsprotec-tionstatus,typesandimportance,aswellasthemethodsforitsconservation.Thelawalsoanticipatesprotectionmeasures (protection, contractual protection and resto-ration)andpoliciesaimedatconservingnaturalheritage.TheInstituteoftheRepublicofSloveniaforNatureCon-servationalsoperforms,amongothers,thetaskofmoni-toringthestatusofnaturalheritage,whichincludesgeo-logicalheritage, fossilsandminerals.Theabove-quotedlawspecifiesinparticulartheirprotection,removalfromnature,andexploration.Therulesandactionsfornaturalheritage protection are laid down in the Decree on thecategories of valuable natural features (Official GazetteofRS,no.52/14June2002).Aspecialmechanismforthe protection of minerals and fossils are the so-calledareasofanticipatedgeologicalandgeomorphologicalun-dergroundnaturalheritage.Theseareareasofpotentialfindswhereitisrecommendedthatanyminerals,fossilsorcavesdiscoveredduringlandworksaretobeimmedi-atelyreportedtothecompetentinstitution.

TheprotectionofkarstcavesinSloveniahasbeenregu-latedsince2004bytheCaveProtectionAct,whichstipu-latesthatallcaves(morethan10,000)arethepropertyofthe state. The protection regimes prescribed by this lawprohibitanyactivities thatcoulddestroyorotherwise ir-reparably damage caves, cave inventory or cave life. TheIdrijaGeoparkhasalargenumberofcavesites,asmanyas225,butnoneofthemcurrentlyhasthestatusofatouristcave.Themainreasonsforthisaretheirinaccessibilityandnatural features,as themajorityof themarenarrowandsteepnaturalshafts,andagreatmanyarewatercaves.

The protection of geosites in the protected areaswithintheIdrijaGeoparkis laiddowninmunicipalor-dinances, which specify the protection regimes for themostimportantgeologicallocalitiesonthelocallevel.

IntheareaoftheproposedIdrijaGeopark,theareaof the Upper Idrijca River is protected as a landscapepark,whichalsoincludestheBukovVrhnaturereserve.ThetotalnumberofnaturalmonumentswithintheGe-oparkis17.Theseare:Bedrovagrapaanditsexceptionalgeological content – 9 karst caves (Studenčkova cave,Vovkovacave,SpringnearŠinkovčažagaandCaveabovethe Spring, Ponor and gorge in Klame, Habe naturalshaft,CaveaboveKobila,Ukovnik,WildLake),partoftheGovškarcaRiverbasin,WaterfallontheKlavžarica,Kramaršca,SuhaIdrijca,dolinebelowPetelinovvrh,Je-lenk, Porezen in the area of the Municipality of Idrija,andKačjasmrekaatGodovič.

Inmostcasesthevariousprotectionstatusesoverlapone another, so that a single area or geosite may haveseveraldifferentprotectionlevelsthatcomplementoneanother. The complex nature protection of more thanhalfoftheIdrijaGeoparkareaisalsocomplementedbythe European regulation Nature 2000. There are eightNature 2000 areas in the Municipality of Idrija. TheTrnovoforestwasproclaimedanimportantareaforfor-estbirdspeciesonthebasisoftheBirdsDirective,whileother areas were selected on the basis of the HabitatsDirective: Trnovo forest – Nanos, Idrijca River and itstributaries,Kendoverobe,Jelenk,Ukovnik,CavebelowLešetnica,andtheCaveinGlobine.

SomegeologicallocalitiesintheGeoparkarealsopro-tectedincombinationwithculturalheritage.Forexam-ple,Anthony’sMainRoad,Francis’Shaft,andJoseph’sShaftalsohavetheprotectionstatusofaculturalmonu-ment. This overlapping is particularly intensive in theareaoftheIdrijaoredeposit,themineandthetownofIdrija,aswellasinallsitesthatwerehistoricallyortech-nologicallyconnectedwiththeIdrijaMine.

Listedbelowarethelegalactsthatservedasalegalbasisfortheprotectionofgeologicalphenomenaandtheconservationofnaturalandculturalheritageinthepro-posedIdrijaGeopark.

International conventions and EU regulations

CouncilDirective92/43/EECof21May1992ontheconservationofnaturalhabitatsandofwildfaunaandflora,

CouncilDirective79/409/EECof2April1979ontheconservationofwildbirds.

ThesetwodirectivesrepresentsalegalbasisforNature2000.

National laws

NatureConservationAct.OfficialGazetteofRS,nos.56/99,31/00,119/02,41/04,and96/04,NationalAssemblyoftheRepublicofSlovenia,

CaveProtectionAct.OfficialGazetteofRS,no. 2/04,NationalAssemblyoftheRepublicofSlovenia,Ljubljana,

Decreeonthecategoriesofvaluablenaturalfeatures.OfficialGazetteofRS,nos.52/02and67/03,GovernmentoftheRepublicofSlovenia,Ljubljana,

Rulesonthedesignationandprotectionofvaluablenaturalfeatures.OfficialGazetteofRS,nos.111/04,70/06,58/09,and93/10,MinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanning,Ljubljana,

Decreeonspecialprotectionareas(Nature2000areas).OfficialGazetteofRS,nos.49/04,110/04,59/07,and43/08,GovernmentoftheRepublicofSlovenia,Ljubljana,

CulturalHeritageProtectionAct.OfficialGazetteofRS,nos.7/99,110/02,126/03,63/07,16/08,123/08,and8/11,NationalAssemblyoftheRepublicofSlovenia,Ljubljana,

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Local rules and decrees

In the Municipality of Idrija, nature conservation andprotectionisregulatedbythefollowingrules:

DecreeontheProclamationofCulturalandHistoricalMonumentsandNaturalSitesintheAreaoftheMunicipalityofIdrija(OfficialGazetteofRS,nos.16/86,17/88,56/93,45/97,131/03,45/07,and115/07),MunicipalityofIdrija,Idrija,

DecreeontheprotectionofapartoftheGovškarcaRiverbasin(OfficialGazetteofRS,no.25/89),MunicipalityofIdrija,Idrija,

DecreeontheproclamationoftheZgornjaIdrijcaLandscapePark(OfficialGazetteofRS,nos.11/93and37/95),MunicipalityofIdrija,Idrija,

DecreeontheproclamationoftechnicalheritageinIdrijaanditssurroundingsforculturalmonumentsofnationalimportance(OfficialGazetteofRS,nos.66/01,55/02,16/08,and20/09),GovernmentoftheRepublicofSlovenia,Ljubljana.

C3 DATAONTHEMANAGEMENTANDMAINTENANCEOFTHESESITES

Theresponsibilityforthesesitesoverlapsintermsofexpertandmanagementactivities.Expertcompetencesareexer-cisedbyspecialised institutions(public institutions)withnationaldelegation,andcoversystemicnatureprotection.The Instituteof theRepublicofSloveniaforNatureCon-servation (ZRSVN) is the specialised national institutionwithinMinistryofEnvironment.Inlinewithitsauthorisa-tions(NatureConservationAct),itisinchargeofconserv-ingSloveniannature(conservingbiodiversityandnaturalsights)withanemphasisonpriorityareas.ItsregionalUnitNovaGoricaispresentintheIdrijaGeoparkareaandisalsoinchargeofregularlymonitoringnaturestatus.

The national institution for the protection of cultur-al heritage in the Idrija Geopark is the InstitutefortheProtectionofCulturalHeritageofSlovenia(ZVKDS),Re-gionalUnitNovaGorica. Its expert tasks comprise con-servation, protection and preservation. The Republic of Slovenia and the Municipality of Idrija ensure the legal protection of cultural heritage, performance of specific parts of protection activities, such as the distribution on budget funds and the adequate inclusion of protection into development and implementation plans, and also encour-age public access to heritage. Another part of protection and maintenance activities are individuals and organiza-tions that have been granted permissions or concessions to carry out protection tasks, and non-governmental institu-tions and associations that work in the area of protection.

As regards management, several managers are present in the Idrija Geopark, who are responsible for the mainte-nance and management of this sites.

Through the establishement of the Idrija Geopark, a stronger connection is being created between the manag-ers of cultural and natural heritage and specialised insti-tutions. Some of the most important tasks of the IdrijaGeoparkinclude coordination among partners, managing natural and cultural heritage, informing, promotional ac-tivities and better cooperation among partners in the de-velopment of new products and services. The IdrijaGe-opark combines and coordinates several groups of inter-est and partners that are of key importance to maintenance and management. The most important managers are: Id-rija Municipality, Idrija Mercury Mine, Idrija Municipal Museum, The Slovenian Forest Management Service, Id-rija Heritage Management Centre and proprietary owners.

Themostimportantentitiesinchargeofmanagement,maintenance and guardianship of natural and culturalheritage, following public delegations and authorities:The Idrija Municipality administers the property of the municipality and enables adequate conditions for its eco-nomic development, helps develop agriculture, and at the same time keeps the rural areas inhabited. From the beginning, the Idrija Geopark has actively participated in its own establishement with the help of its employees, activity co-financing, project registration, expert help, its inclusion in municipal development strategies, informing the public via press conferences, media, etc. On the basis of municipal acts, the Idrija Municipality is also the actual manager of protected areas and is charged for maintaining the ZgornjaIdrijcaLandscapeParkand theonlymuseuminnature–theWildLake. It financially supports several programs, including the regulation and guardianship of thematic parks (the Rake natural educational trail).

Yet the main task and delegation of the Idrija Municipali-ty is by all means preparing and adopting strategic spatial and developmental documents related to the Idrija Geopark area.TheIdrijaHeritageManagementCentre(CID) is a public institution created by the Idrija Municipality with the pur-pose of coordinating the managers of Idrija heritage and providing a system for its harmonised and durable man-agement. The Centre also carryes out basic tasks related to the elaboration of a common tourist program for Idrija, as well as organing the promotion of and support for serv-ices and product marketing in Idrija. A long side the man-agement of the Geopark, the Centre is currently establish-ing the management of the Idrija Youth Hostel and public aquarium, as well as acquiring the necessary framework for continuing its other tasks connected to several areas of Idrija’s heritage and the development of sustainable tour-ism. As of 1st January 2012, the Centre is taking over the activities of the Idrija Tourist Office.TheIdirijaMercuryMineisengagedinthemaintenance,conservationandpresentationoftwogeologicalsitesofnational importance: Anthony’s Main Road (a touristmine)andtheIdrijaoredeposit,aswellasfourmonu-mentsof technicalheritage:Anthony’sMainRoad, thesmelting plant, Francis’ Shaft and Joseph’s Shaft. Forseveralyears,themercuryminehasbeenaleadingcrea-tor of natural heritage presentation (the Rake naturaleducationaltrail,Vojsko,ZgornjaIdrijcaLandscapePark,Idrijaoredeposit),educationalprogramsfornaturalsci-

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enceteachersandstudents(cavemapping,ecology,geo-logicalandnatureconservationprograms).

The Idrija Municipal Museum is in charge of collecting,preserving, conserving and presenting movable culturalheritage, as well as non-material heritage in the area oftheIdrijaGeopark.Theadministrativeofficeofthemu-seumislocatedatGewerkeneggcastleinIdrija.Themuse-ummanagesandmaintainsseveraltechnicalandculturalmonumentsinIdrija,includingtheKamštWaterwheel,acollectionofrenovatedminemachineryinFrancis’sShaft,theMiner’shouseandtheSloveniaPrintingWorkshoponVojsko.Itoftenhostsethnologicalworkshops.

TheSloveniaForestService, IdrijaUnitplaysan impor-tantpartatforestmanagementplanning,keepsrecordsof forestedsurfaces,keepscontroloverforestmanage-mentandprepareshuntingmanagementplans.Itisalsopartlyresponsiblefornatureconservationcontrol.

Besides the above-mentioned managers of the area,thereareseveral individualswhocontributetothepro-grambyexercisingactivitiesrelatedtotheGeopark'sphi-losophyandthemaintainanceofcertainlocalitiesattheGeoparkarea.

The Development Agency of Idrija and Cerkno plans,preparesandputsintoactiondevelopmentprojectsforthe integrated development of rural areas for the pur-pose of planning the development of the countrysideandspecific locations,offeringnew jobs inagriculturalandotheractivities,andprovidingadditionalincometothoslivinginthecountryside.

By encuraging local inhabitants to cooperate, it de-velops quality rural products (typical for the region),organisesandcoordinatessupplierconnectivity,eventsandproductmarketing.Specialemphasisisgiventothefunctionalknowledgeofinhabitantsandstrengtheningof entrepreneurial skills and expertise. In cooperationwithlocalcommunities,itdevelopsasupportinfrastruc-turetodevelopdifferentprograms(farmmarket,...).

TheIdrijaMuseumAssociationisactivelyinvolvedinre-search, development and local history of the area. Theassociation'sbotanicalsectionhasorganizedandmain-tainsScopolli’sMemorialGardenandtheFloraCarnioli-capermanentcollection.

Local communities (Vojsko, Čekovnik…) and associa-tions (Trma, TD Kanomlja, TD Špura…) take care thatthethematicpaths(naturaltrailatVojskoplateau,Ma-tuckartrail,Plumcircle,etc.)arewell-keptandprotected.TheyalsotakepartinorganizingprogramsfordifferentlocationssuchastheŠturmajcehomestead.

PrivateindividualswhoareproprietorsofseparateunitsofnaturalmonumentsorculturalheritageobservethelegalactsofRepublicofSlovenia,takeappropriatecareofandensuretheprotectionofsitesandlocationsclas-sifiedasheritage,andmaintaintheaccesspathstosuchsites(footprintsofUpperTriassicreptilesetc.).

C4 LISTINGANDDESCRIPTIONOFNON-GEOLOGICALSITESANDHOWTHEYAREINTEGRATEDINTOTHEPROPOSEDGEOPARK

TheproposedareaoftheIdrijaGeoparkhasexceptionalnaturalandculturalheritagethatisuniqueinSlovenia.For more than 500 years, the history of Idrija and itsbroadersurroundingshasbeeninseparablylinkedtothemercurymine.The identityoftheareaanditsculture,lifestyle, education, research, industry, health and cui-sineallhavetheirroots intheexceptionaloredeposit,whosediscoveryin1490enabledthedevelopmentofthetownandthelocalenvironment.

4.1.FLORAANDFAUNA

The important European and international scientistswhocametoIdrijabecauseoftheminedidnotonlyex-ploreitsgeology,butalsoitsbotany.Theylaidthefoun-dationsofnaturalscienceinSlovenia.KnowledgeoffloraandfaunahasalongtraditionintheIdrijaenvironment,whichbeganwiththearrivalofthefirstbotanistinSlov-eniainthe16thcentury,P.A.Mattioli,whowasfollowedbyJ.Scopoli,B.Hacquet,F.Hladnik,andH.Freyer.

Fig.C1–IdrijaPrimrose(Primula x venusta),ahybridbetweentheBear'sEarandtheCarniolanPrimrose.ItthrivesinthoseplaceswheretheCarniolanPrimroseandtheBear'sEargrowclosetooneanother.

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TheterritorycoveredbyvastexpensesofIdrija’sforestsliesbetweentheJulianAlpstothenorthandtheTrnovoplateautothesouth,andrepresentsapassagebetweentheEastern Alps and the Dinaric mountains. It is, however,phytogeographicallyandgeomorphologicallymorecloselylinked to the Dinaric than the alpine mountain system(Kordiš,1986:IdrijaForeststhroughtheCenturies).

The main forest community in the Idrija region isDinaricbeech-firforest(Omphalodo Fagetum Abieti-Fage-tum dinaricum)inanaltitudebeltof(400)500to1250m.Theforestiswellpreserved,particularlyintheZgornjaIdrijcaLandscapePark,wheretheremainsofaprimevalforestcanbefoundonBukovVrhmountain.Theforestsare very rich in ferns and vascular plants. Among thehabitattypesofEuropeanimportancearethevegetationofdryandsemi-drygrasslandswithmanyprotectedspe-ciesoftheorchidfamily,aswellascommunitiesofrockfissures,screesandrockygrasslands.Worthyofspecialattentionandprotectionarethewetmeadowsandshal-lowmarshlandcommunities.

TheareaoftheIdrijaGeoparkishometomorethan25 notable species, around 60 protected species, andmore than 70 species from the Slovenian Red List ofThreatenedSpecies(Dakskobleretal.,2010).

Theareaswithparticularlyvaluableandendangeredvegetation and flora are Hudournik, the upper part oftheGačnikRiverbasin,theupperreachesoftheIdrijcaRiver and Belca stream, Sončni rob, Idrijska Bela, theStruggorge,WildLake,KendoverobeandJelenkmoun-tains, meadows in the Češnjice hamlet, Ljubevč farmsnear Idrija, Šebalk marshes with nearby meadows nearGodovič,andtheforestsandmeadowsfromJavornikandtheKrižnaGoramountains.However,notonlyprotectedplantsareworthyofourattention.Equallyimportantarealsorareplantsandthosethatareunusualforaparticu-lararea.Andevenmoreimportantisthebalancebetweenthem,becauseonlythejointprotectionofallplantsandtheirenvironmentswillensuretheirfurtherexistence.

Idrija's forestsarepartoftheTrnovoForest,whichextends along continuous forest complexes all the wayto the forests of Croatia. This provides a favourablehabitatandreproductionareaforseveralspeciesoflargemammals (bear, wolf, marten, otter, wildcat, red deer,roedeer,wildboar,…),aswellasmanysmallmammals(dormouseandotherrodents,hedgehog,shrew,bat,…).

Of interest among the introduced species is the lynx(extinctinthe19thcentury),whichinitiallymultipliedwell,andisnowstabilisingandexpandingitsareatothesouthandnorthofSlovenia.Anotherintroducedspeciesisthechamois,whichlivesinareaswithrockyridgesandravinesaswellassun-exposedplateaus.

AgoodbasisforthestudyofvertebratesistheworkofanativeofIdrija,HenrikFreyer,datingfrom1842(FaunaderinKrainbekanntenSäugethiere,Vögel,ReptilenundFische).EquallyinterestingisthehalfacenturyyoungerlistoffishfromtheSočaRiverbasin,whichistheworkofJuliusGlowacke,aprofessorofnaturalsciencewhowasborninIdrijain1846.Bothworksarehighlyinteresting,becausetheyenablecomparisonwiththepresentstate.AsimilarcomparisonisenabledbythestudyofbirdsinCarniolausingthedesignationsofIdrija.

Fig.C4–SnakePine

Fig.C2–Scopolia(Scopolia carniolica)wasnamedafterIdrija'sfa-mousnaturalscientist,Scopoli.Itwasfirstdiscovered,describedanddepictedbyMattioliasearlyasin1569.

Fig.C3–Hacquetia(Hacquetia epipactis).NamedafterIdrija'sfa-mousnaturalscientist,Hacquet.Itisalow(10-25cm)perennialthatbloomsfromthebeginningofApriluntilMay.

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Table3–Exceptionaltreesandecosystems

Nameofsite DescriptionNature

protectionstatus

Nat.phe-nom.

Use/purpose

EXCEPTIONALTREES

1 OAKAVENUE

ThisavenueofPedunculateoaktreesissituatedalongtheRaketrail,andwasplantedduringtheconstruc-tionoftheRakein1770.Pedunculate(Quercus robur)isaspeciesofoak.

P-LP Dend Edu,Tour,Hist

2ASHTREESALONGTHERAKE,Idrija

TheCommonAsh(Fraxinus excelsior)alongtheRaketrail is the largest preserved ash tree of its kind inSlovenia.

P-LP,NH-loc

Dend Edu,Tour,Hist

3SNAKEPINE,Godovič

AspecialgeneticcombinationofthepinetreePicea excelosa form. Virgata.

NH-nat,N2000

Dend Edu,Tour

4IVANŠEK’SLINDENTREE

Anoldlindentree(Tilia platyphyllos) ofenormoussize,oneofthebulkiesttreesinwesternSlovenia,alocalcuriosity.

NH-nat,N2000

Dend Edu,Tour

ECOSYSTEMS

5 BUKOVVRHADinaricforestcommunityoffirandbeechtreesofforestcharacter on the northern boundary of the Trnovo forest(naturereserve).Notsuitableforpresentation.

P-LP,NH-loc,N2000

Ecos Sci

6ŠEBALKPONDANDPOTOČNAAREA,Godovič

ThewatersofthePotočnaareaaredammedbehindtheŠebalkpond.

NH-loc,N2000

Ecos Tour

7WATERHOLEINIVANJEDOLINEaboveGodovič

A typical village sink-hole pond representing a rareecosystemwithrichinvertebratefauna.

NH-loc Ecos Edu,Tour

8

SINK-HOLEPONDBEHINDTHEIVANŠEKHOMESTEAD

Atypicalsink-holepondformingpartofthehomestead,a rare ecosystem, the habitat of endangered and pro-tectedanimalspecies.Thepondisinhabitedbydifferentspeciesofamphibians(Rana sp. and Triturus sp.),drag-onfliesanddamselflies(Odonata)arealsonumerous.

NH-loc,N2000

Ecos Edu,Tour

Fig.C5–GeneticallypureSočatrout(Salmo marmoratus) liveintherare,inaccessiblespringtributariesoftheIdrijcaRiver.

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4.2.CULTURALHERITAGEINIDRIJAMUNICIPALITY

The most important cultural heritage of Idrija islinkedtothetraditionoffivecenturiesofmining.Mon-umentaltechnicaldevicesandmachineshavebeenpre-served.ThetownofIdrijaanditssurroundingsboastalarge number of cultural heritage sites, which testifiestotheexceptionalsignificanceofthisareaformercuryproduction. The technical heritage facilities are themostdirectwitnessoffivecenturiesofmining.Agreatmanyrareandevenuniquespecimensoftechnicalherit-age have been preserved. The preserved water barriersknownas»klavže«areanexceptionalexampleofbuild-ingconstruction,andtestifytotheuniquetechnologyoftimberfloatingfortheneedsofthemine.Thecontinu-ously emerging challenges in ore extraction and metalproduction attracted prominent European researcherstoIdrija.Idrijaalsodevelopedasatownwithallthenec-essaryeducationalinstitutionsofferingopportunitiestocapablelocalinhabitantsforeducatingthemselves.Min-

ing activities occupied the male labour force, but alsobroughtlacemakingactivitiesintothetown,whichweredevelopedbywomenandprovided themwithanaddi-tionalsourceofincome.

AruralpopulationlivedinthesurroundingsofIdrija.Preservedtodayarethehomesteadsofpowerful,wealthyfarmersinSpodnjaIdrija,andlarge,solitaryhomesteadsintheIdrijahills.Theexistenceofresidentialandallnec-essaryfarmbuildingstestifytotheeconomicindepend-enceofthesefarmunits.

Theinfluentialhistoricalprocessesthatbroughtpolit-icalandsocialchangesalsolefttheirmarkintheformofimmovableheritagesites.TheseincludemilitaryfacilitiesfromtheFirstandSecondWorldWars–militaryroutes,boundaryfortifications,andburialgrounds.Althoughofyoungerorigin,thesesitesbearwitnesstotheturbulenthistoricaleventsinthisareaintherecentpastaswell.

Table4–Culturalheritage

No.NameoftheSite

DescriptionCultureprotection*

1GEWERKENEGGCASTLE

Dominating the old town is the 16th century Gewerkenegg Castle, whichthroughthecenturiesservedastheheadquartersofthemineadministrationandasamercurystorage.ItwasthecentreofmercurytradinginSlovenia,theplacewheremercurybeganitsjourneyintotheworld.TodayitistheofficialseatoftheIdrijaMunicipalMuseum.

NM

2ANTHONY’SMAINROAD

Oneoftheoldestpreservedandstillopenmineentrancesintheworld.Itwasdugoutintheyear1500,initiallysupportedbywood,andin1766builtintoanoval-shapedshaft.The18thcenturyChapeloftheHolyTrinitystandsinitseasternpart.Anthony'sMainRoadisarrangedasanundergroundmuseum.

NM

3OLDTOWNOFIDRIJA

Originally a miners' settlement dating from the 15th century, Idrija devel-opedintoatowninthe17thand18thcenturies.Thenarrowtowncorehasatypicalbourgeois,marketarchitecture(administrativeandresidentialbuild-ings).Thetownhastypicalminer'shousesandminer'sresidentialbuildingsknownas»prhauzi«.

LM

4THEMERCURYROUTE

Partoftheroutealongwhichmercurywastransported.Therouteisinsepara-blylinkedtomercuryminingandtrading.

LM

5MAGAZIN-MINEWAREHOUSE

Alarge,single-storeybuildingthatwaslaterusedasasilowasbuiltinBaroquestyleinIdrija'soldtowncentrein1764.Thesilowasusedtostorewheatandotherfoodstuffsusedtopaytheminers.Plaquesdedicatedtoimportantperson-alitiesinIdrija'shistorywereputuponthefacadeofthewarehouse.

NM

6MINE’STHEATRE

Builtin1769,itistheoldesttheatrebuildingmadeofstoneinSlovenia.ThebuildingtestifiestoIdrija'srichanddiverseculturalheritage,whichincludestheatreproduction.Thetheatrewasrenovatedseveraltimes,buthasretaineditsappearancetothepresentday.

NM

7

SECONDARYSCHOOLOFNATURALSCIENCES

ThebuildinghousingtheSecondarySchoolofNaturalSciencesinIdrijawasbuiltin1903withmunicipalfundsandinclassiciststyle.TodayithousesId-rija'ssecondaryschool(gymnasium)andisnamedafterJurijVega,afamousSlovenianmathematician.Thebuildingwasthoroughlyrenovatedin2008.

LM

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8POPULARSCHOOL

The monumental building of the popular school was built in 1876. Today,thebuildingcontinuestobetheprideofthetown,offeringsheltertovariousculturalinstitutions,thereputedLaceSchool,andtheInternationalCentreofIdrijaLace.

CH

9

ŠVICA–SCOPOLI'SHOUSE,Kosovelova8

Thefamousnaturalscientist,JoannesAntoniusScopoli,thefirstminephysi-cian in Idrija (1754-1769), worked in this building. A memorial plate on thebuildingisdedicatedtothememoryofhisworkandhiscorrespondencewiththereputedSwedishscientistandprincepsbotanicorummundi,CarlvonLinne.

LM

10IDRIJAMINER'SHOUSE,Bazoviška4

Thehousewasbuiltattheendofthe18thcenturyandrenovatedinthe19thcentury.Thebuildinghasahighgable,threefloors,abasementandanattic.Itismademostlyofwood,withtheexceptionofastonegroundfloor.Thebuildingispositionedamongvegetablegardens.Ittellsthestoryofminers'livesinIdrija.

NM

11CHURCHOFTHEHOLYTRINITY

Builtonthespotwhere,accordingtolegend,atubmakerdiscoveredmercuryinthefar-offyearof1490.Theoriginalwoodenchurch,built in1500,waslaterbuiltup.Thepresbyteryisdecoratedwithcolourfulstained-glasswin-dows,otherillustrativesymbolsincludeore,agimlet,andacarbidelamp.

LM

12ST.ANTHONY'SCHURCHANDCALVARY

StandingonasteepslopeoverlookingthetownisSt.Anthony'sChurchdat-ingfrom1678.In1766theStationsoftheCrossweresetupattheCalvarysituatedonarisingslopeonthewestsideofthechurch.

LM

13ST.JOSEPH'SCHURCH

Thepresent-dayparishchurchwaserectedonthespotoftheformercemeteryChurchoftheHolyCross.Itwasbuiltin1969followingthedrawingsofarchi-tectToneBitenc.ThechurchhousesthebelltowerofthepreviouschurchandthebellsofthedemolishedparishChurchofSt.Barbara.

LM

14VAULTOFTHECHURCHOFST.BARBARA

Thevault is theonlypreservedpartof theBaroqueChurchofSt.Barbara,whichwasdamagedduringWorldWarIIandafterwardsdemolished.Intherenovatedcryptisagalleryandamemorialchapel.

LM

15FORESTRYSCHOOL

Alarge,several-storeybuildingwithaportalbearingtheyear1856.ItisoneoffourforestryschoolsestablishedintheperiodoftheAustrian-HungarianMon-archy.Theschooloperatedfrom1892-1909.

LM

16SMELTINGPLANT

TheareaofthesmeltingplantoftheIdrijaMineincludestheendcablecarstations,aseparationplantandmill,abridgewitharailway,acollectionbun-kerwithafeedersystem,arotaryfurnace,condensers,aswellasasmokestackandaccompanyingducts.Smeltingactivitiesdevelopedcontinuouslyoverthecenturies,fromburningoncoal-firedpilesinthe16thcenturytosmeltinginmodernrotaryfurnacesinthe20thcentury.

NM

17ČERMAK-ŠPIREKFURNACE

Afurnacefortheprocessingofsmall-grainedore.ItsdesignisIdrija'soriginalimprovementofshaftfurnacesattheendofthe19thcentury.Itispartofthesmeltingcomplex.

LM

18FRANCIS’SSHAFT

Ashaftdatingfrom1792,usedtotransportminersandmaterialsuptoadepthof272metres.ExhibitedintheentrancebuildingofFrancis'sShaftareminemachinesanddevicesthatarepartlystilloperational.AmongtheseisalsoKley'spumpfrom1893,whichforfiftyyearswasusedtopumpwaterfromthepit.Ac-cordingtoknowndata,thisistheonlypreservedpumpofitskindintheworld.

NM

19JOSEPH’SSHAFT

Themostimportantshaftfortransportingmaterialsandminers,whichcon-nectedall15levels.Itwasbuiltin1786,buthasbeenbackfilledtoday.Ex-hibited inthevicinityarerenovatedmine locomotives forthetransportofore through the town. Alongside the shaft is the recently opened Scopoli'sMemorialGarden,wherevisitorscanobservetheblossomingofrareplantsfromthesurroundings,whichweredescribedbythefirstbotanistswhocametoexploretheIdrijaregion.

NM

37

C.GEOCONSERVATION

20

THEENGINEROOMOFTHEINZAGHISHAFT

The Inzaghi Shaft began to be dug in 1764 and was completed in 1890. Atthattimeitcomprisedaboilerroomandanengineroom.Lateronaliftwasinstalledforthepurposeofexportingoretothesurfaceandtransportingmin-ersandequipment.Theengineroomwasrenovatedin2005togetherwithen-ginesfromtheengineroom.TodayithousestheTouristInformationCentre.

LM

21

KAMŠTWATERPUMPWITHRAKEWATERCHANNELANDKOBILADAM

Attheendofthe16thcentury,theIdrijcaRiverwasdammedatKobilaandthefirstwaterchannelknownas»Rake«wasbuilt. Initially,thewaterchannelex-tendedallthewaytothecenterofthetown.Today,itrunsonlyfromthedamatKobilatothekamšt(waterwheel).Forcenturies,thewaterflowingintheRakedrovetheminedevicesknownas»kamšt«(waterpump),whichpumpedwaterandliftedorefromthepit.Thelastpreservedkamštwasbuiltin1790andoper-atedcontinuouslyforaperiodof160years.Itpumped300litresofwaterperminutefromadepthof283m.Itshugewoodenwheelhasadiameterof13.6m.

NM

22BRUSWATERBARRIERONTHEBELCASTREAM

Astonewaterbarrierwithawoodenprojectingroof.Thewateraccumulatinginanartificiallakebehindthebarrierwasreleased,creatingafloodwavethatfloatedthetimberallthewaytotheIdrijaMine.

NM

23PUTRIHWATERBARRIER

Astonewaterbarrierprotectedbyaprojectingroof.ItsdesignandmethodofoperationwereinventedbyJožefMrak,aconstructorfromIdrija.

NM

24WATERBARRIERONTHEIDRIJCARIVER

ThelargestofallpreservedwaterbarriersontheIdrijcaRiver,alsoknownastheIdrijaklavže.Theywerebuiltin1774.Thestonewaterbarrieris41mlongandwasusedtofloattimbertotheIdrijaMine.

NM

25

ROASTINGSITESINTHESURROUNDINGSOFIDRIJA,Pšenk

21oldoreroastingsiteswithwastepilesofcinnabar-coatedvesselfragmentswerefoundinthesurroundingsofIdrija.TheclosestroastingsitewasfoundatLenštatinIdrija,andthemostdistantsitesaresituated6-7kmairdistancefromthemine(Čekovnik,Kanomlja).Potteryvessels,sortedandcrushedore,washedore(šlih),etc.weretransportedtotheroastingsites.

/

26IDRIJALAUFRAILWAY

Aforestrailwayinalengthof100to3000m,previouslyusedtotransportwoodfromtheheartofforeststothewaterbarriers,fromwhereitwasthenfloatedtoIdrija.ThelaufwastheonlyrailwayofitskindintheformerAustrian-Hun-garianMonarchy,andmostlikelythefirstintheworld.Itwasmadeofwood,exceptforthewheelsofcartsandothersmallparts,whichweremadeofsteel.

/

27KANOMLJAOROVČJAKWATERBARRIER

AstonewaterbarrierusedforfloatingtimbertotheIdrijaMine,builtinNa-poleon'stime.After itsrestorationin2005,thewaterreservoirbehindthebarrierisusedforasmallhydro-powerplant.

NM

28

CHURCHOFST.MARYONTHEROCK,SpodnjaIdrija

Rising above the settlement of Spodnja Idrija and the Idrijca River valleyis therenovatedpilgrimChurchofMary'sAssumption,MaryontheRock,which was first mentioned in 1156. Its impressive interior boasts frescoesdrawnbyJožefMrak,whichadornthearcades,naveandthepresbytery.

LM

29KENDAMANSION,SpodnjaIdrija

TheoriginsoftheKendaMansionreachbacktotheyear1377,whenthefirstlandownersmanagedthefarmabovetheIdrijcaRivervalley.Todaythismag-nificentbuildinghasbeenrestoredandrevivedinthespiritofoldtimes,andhasbeentransformedintoahotel.Inthevicinityofthemansionisapaintedstonegranary(author:F.Kobal)andatoplar(double)hayrack.

LM

30ŠTURMAJCE,Kanomlja

A solitary homestead of a well-to-do farmer comprised of eight buildings.Clusteredaroundalargeresidentialhouseareauxiliarybuildings,includingaguesthouse,barn,linkedhayrack,drying-house,stonegranary.Ahousewitharemarkablypreservedinteriorandwallpaintingsdatingfrom1802.

LM

31CHURCHOFST.FLORIAN,Krnice

In2001anew,modernlydesignedchurchofthepopularpatronsaintFlorianwasbuiltatKrnice.ThechurchisdecoratedwithbeautifulmosaicsbyMarkRupnik.

/

38

C.GEOCONSERVATION

32

SLOVENIAPARTISANPRINTINGSHOP,Vojsko

Anassemblageofwoodencabinsservingasakitchen,engineroom,compos-ingroomandbindery.Built in1944.Theprintingshophas itsownpowerstation.Duringtheeightmonthsof itsoperation inwartime, theSloveniaPrinting Shop printed 313 various prints in more than 1.3 million copies.ThePartisanDailywastheonlydailynewspapertobeprintedbyaresistancemovementinEurope.

LM

33PARTISANCEMETERYATVOJŠČICA

Thecemeteryisenclosedbyalowwallandhastombstonesshapedlikeleadbullets.Thenamesofthoseburiedareinscribedonthebullets.Infrontofthecemeteryisastoneobeliskwithanengraveddedication.

LM

34ŠKRATOVŠEHOMESTEAD,Vojsko

Alarge,solitaryhomesteaddatingfromthe19thcentury,withtheyears1859and1874inscribedonitsstoneportals.Ahousewithawell-preservedinte-rior,twostoreysinthegableandatypicalsteeproofthatwasoriginallycov-eredwithshingles.Alongsidethehouseisaspaciousarchedbarnwitharchesontworowsofstonepillars.

LM

35

FORTIFICA-TIONSANDSHELTERSATTHEŠEBALJKPOND,Godovič

TracesoftheItalianoccupationafterWorldWarI,whenItaliansoldiersforti-fiedtheRapalborderbyconstructingcavernsandsheltersservingasade-fenceinclasheswiththeYugoslavarmy.Theyneverservedtheirpurpose,asnoclashesoccurred.ThePolishrailwayrouteLogatec-Idrija-Trebuša(Feldbahn)hasbeenpreserved.

/

36JELENŠEKFORT,Godovič

Prehistoricsettlement,onthenorthernsideofthefortaninvestigatedburialgroundfromtheLateIronAge.

LM

37 LEDINE

OneofthemostbeautifulvillagesintheIdrijaregion,whichintheMiddleAges began to develop on plateaus through planned colonisation from the13thcenturyonward,isundoubtedlytheancientvillageofLedine.ThefirstwrittenmentionofLedinewasrecordedinthefar-offyearof1063.Ledineisaclusteredvillagesurroundedbyunspoiltnature,cultivatedfields,andmead-owswithnumerousdoublehayracks.

CH

38

GRANARYatthePriMožinotuhomestead,Zavratec

Ahomesteadofthebuildingtypetypicallyusedbywell-to-dofarmersoftheŠkofjaLoka-Cerknoregions,datingfromthe18thand19thcenturies.Itcom-prisesamonumental,storeyedbarn,adoublehayrack,largewatertank,andahousewithanimpressivelypreservedinterior.

NM

39HOMESTEADGorenjiVrsnik21

Ahomesteadofthebuildingtypetypicallyusedbywell-to-dofarmersoftheŠkofjaLoka-Cerknoregions,datingfromthe18thand19thcenturies.Itcom-prisesamonumental,storeyedbarn,adoublehayrack,largewatertank,andahousewithanimpressivelypreservedinterior.

LM

40

HOUSEatLedine20(priJureč)andMUSEUMCOLLECTIONOFFARMTOOLSANDEQUIPMENT

A large,single-storeyedhousewithasteepgableroofandasquaregroundfloor. Traces of wall paintings on the south and west facades. A preservedinteriorwithatraditionallydesignedarchedbasement,vestibule,andablackkitchen.Onthenorthfacadeisapaintednichewithwoodenplastic.Arrangedonthebarnalongside theoldhouse isapreciouscollectionofaround300smallandlargeantiqueobjectsofhighethnologicalvalue.

LM

41

PEČNIŠKIMALNIMILLSinthePeklenskagrapagorge

A steep path leads downward from Pečnik to several abandoned mills, thepartlydemolished»Pečniškimalni«inthePeklenskagrapagorge,whichwerefirstmentionedintheLokalandregisterin1318.Severalbuildingshavebeenrestored.

/

*IdrijatogetherwithAlmadeninSpain,hasbeennominatedforinscriptioninUNESCO'sListofWorldHeritageforitsexceptionalmercuryheritage.

TheMunicipalityofIdrijahas14culturalmonumentsofnationalimportance(NM),whiletheremainderareculturalmonumentsoflocalimportance(LM),andtwolocationshavastatusofculturalheritage(CH).(Source:Registerofim-movableculturalheritage)

39

D1 ECONOMICACTIVITYINTHEPROPOSEDGEOPARK

Idrija’s past history was closely connected to five cen-turiesofmining.Dueto the lackof richore,highpro-duction costs, and the prohibition of mercury use, the1980’ssawthegradualclosingdownofthemine,whichchangedthewayoflifeinthisvalley.Atthesametime,the electrical, metalworking and wood industries, to-getherwithconstruction,begantodevelop.

Nowadays, the prevailing activity in the economicsectorisindustrywhichemploysmorethanthreequar-tersoftheworkingpopulation.Otheractivitiesfallshortof 4% of employees. The rate of registered unemploy-mentintheIdrijaMunicipalityfortheyear2010is5.5%,whichiswellbelowSlovenia’saverageof10.5%.

Idrija’s specific geographic position has always pre-senteddifficultiesintheconstructionofmunicipal,roadandothereconomicinfrastructure.Lessdevelopedtraf-ficinfrastructure(therebeingnorailroadinthearea)isstillastrongfactorthatrestrictsfurthereconomicandsocialdevelopmentinthearea.

Varied terrain and big differences in altitude makethe conditions for agriculture unfavourable. Neverthe-less, the unspoilt nature provides opportunities fornature-friendlyandecologicalfarming.Ontheplateauslyinghigherthan600mabovesealevel,theinhabitantsaremoreinterestedincattlebreedingandpasturing.Id-rija’sruralarea isstronglyorientedtowardspreservingtraditional knowledge and skills, typical local productsandproduce.

Oneofthegreatestdevelopmentopportunitiesliesintourism.Thedevelopmentplanofthetourismmarket-ingstrategyforthe2009–2015periodspecifiesseveraladvantages,suchasrichcultural,historicalandtechni-calheritage,remarkablegeologicalandnaturalheritage,a rich cultural tradition, and well-developed economic,socialandintellectualmilieus.

FINANCIALINFORMATION

For several years, the Idrija Municipality, the initiatorand authority responsible for implementing proceduresrelated to the establishment of the Idrija Geopark, hasbeen funding the establishment of the Idrija Geopark.TheprojectisindirectlysupportedbytheIdrijaMercuryMine through the financing of skilled workers. Besidesfinancing the establishment of the Idrija Geopark, theMunicipality allocates program funds for projects anddevelopmenttasksinaccordancewithorsupportingtheGeopark’sdevelopment.Thesearemainlyprojectsintheareaofintegralsustaineddevelopmentofruralareas,andtouristprojects.Themunicipalbudgetfeaturesan itemcalled“GeoparkProject”,whichensuresfundsforactivi-ties linked to the establishment and functioning of theGeopark.Intheperiodfrom2009to2011,theIdrijaMu-nicipalityearmarked€73.000tofinanceexpertground-work, procedures and expert work on the project. In2011,theMunicipalitywasgrantedEuropeanfundstofi-nancetheGeoparkproject–planningandestablishmentofageoparkofregionalimportance–intheamountof€150.000.Thegoaloftheprojectistoprepareprogram,expertanddevelopmentgroundwork,developinfrastruc-tureandthematicpaths,aswellas instrumentsfortheinterpretation of geological heritage. The individual re-sponsibleauthorities(IdrijaMunicipality,IdrijaMercuryMineandICRA)arealsoreceiversoffundsfromtheEu-ropeanprogramforcountrysidedevelopment–LEADER.

Inthepastthree-yearperiod,€368.072wasallocatedto the establishment and start of operation of the Ge-opark,ofwhich€78.600wereallocatedtoinfrastructure.An additional €289.472 were allocated for the develop-mentofcountrysideprojects.

In the 2012–2015 period, an increase of funds isplanned,particularlyforfinancingtheprogramsoftheIdrijaGeopark.Theconstructionofvisitorinfrastructurethatisnotcoveredbythefinancialplanisalsoforeseeninthisperiod,whosecostsareestimatedat€1.500.000.

D.ECONOMICACTIVITY&BUSINESSPLAN(INCLUDINGDETAILEDFINANCIALINFORMATION)

40


Table5–Financialplan

YEAR BEARER AND ACTIVITY

SOURCES OF FUNDING €

IDRIJA MUNICIPALITY LEADER EU

OTHER (NFM, IMM, private,...)

TOTAL

GEO

PAR

K E

STA

BLI

SHM

ENT

2009 IDRIJAMUNICIPALITY:geoparkestablishment,employment

25.000

119.600IDRIJAMERCURYMINE:expertworkProjectinventoryofgeologicalheritagepresentationofGeopark

52.00016.000

IDRIJAMUNICIPALITY:LPmaintenance 26.600

2010 IDRIJAMUNICIPALITYgeoparkestablishment,employment

15.000

132.000IDRIJAMUNICIPALITY:LPmaintenance 26.000

IDRIJAMERCURYMINE:expertworkProject(geologicalpaths)Internationalexchange

53.00016.000

22.000

GEO

PARK

LAU

NCH

ING 2011 IDRIJAMUNICIPALITY

Geoparkestablishment,employment33.000

116.472

IDRIJAMERCURYMINE:expertwork 16.000

IDRIJAMUNICIPALITYGeoparkproject 6.220

35.252

IDRIJAMUNICIPALITYLPinfrastructuremaintenance

26.000

GEO

PAR

K F

UN

CTIO

NN

ING

2012 IHC:Geoparkactivities,employment,expertwork,TIC

75.000

456.292

IDRIJAMUNICIPALITY:Geoparkproject–ofregionalimportance

17.422 98.720

IHC:ILFPromotion

50.00012.000

40.000

PROJECTS:IncooperationwithICRA,CerknoMunicipalityandLAS,theIdrijaMunicipalityobtainedprojectsinsupportoftheIdrijaGeoparkandactivitiesthatrespectnatureandpromotetypicallocalproducts:TheGeopark –anopportunitytodeveloptheIdrijacountryside,DevelopingIdrijalaceandtheIdrijalacetrademark,theCountrysideconcealsmuchmore,Natureandtourist-recreationalactivities,GRAPE–goodhome-grownfood,Encouragingfarming,craftsmanshipandcottageindustryalongtheEmeraldtrail,SupportingeventintheLASregion.During2012-2013,thecrossborderareaSLO-IinthescopeoftheLocalInitiativeprogram,willhosttheLanaturaprojectwhereIdrijapartakesasapartnerandsupportscountrysideactivitiesconnectedtonature.

4.0005.7001.7502.0003.0001.2001.0001.250

22.70029.300

8.25025.00015.000

8.0007.000

25.000 3.000

TOTAL 332.142 220.250 158.972 113.000 824.364

FigD1–Anthony’sMainRoad FigD2–Kamštwaterwheel

41


D2 EXISTINGANDPLANNEDFACILITIESFORTHEPROPOSEDGEOPARK(E.G.GEO-EDUCATION,GEO-TOURISM,TOURISMINFRASTRUCTURE,ETC)

The Idrija Geopark features a great many locationswherevisitorscanbeinformedandeducated,aswellasobserveandexperiencethetypicalfeatures,monumentsandheritageoftheregion.ThestartingpointofthetouristheIdrijaTouristOffice,basedintheInzaghiShaften-gineroom,aculturalheritagesite.TheOfficeprovidesinformation on events, various programs suitable fordifferent interest groups, and other tourist and publicservices.Italsoofferspromotionalmaterials,asouvenirshop,andthepossibilityofhiringalocaltouristguide.

MUSEUMSANDCOLLECTIONS

Anthony’sMainRoad–theoldestpartoftheminewasrenovatedandopenedtothepublicin1994.Themuse-um“insitu”collectionisimportant,asitpreservesthetechnicalheritageofthemercurymineandrepresentsaliveconnectionwiththeminingtraditioninIdrija.Smallexpertgroupsarepermittedtovisitthedeeperpartsofthemineinthecompanyofaminegeologistandobservethepreservedgeologicalsectionsofextremeimportance.

The Idrija Mercury Mine’s administrative buildinghouses the Mine geological collection. Over 800 speci-mensofrockandcinnabarorearedisplayed, includingseveraluniquepiecesaswellasadescriptionofthefor-mation of the ore deposit. Francis’ Shaft is one of themostimportantshaftsonceusedbytheminetoexportore.Today,partoftheshaftisstillusedbytheMine,andanotherparthasbeenarrangedasamuseum.

GewerkeneggCastle,theofficialseatoftheIdrijaMunic-ipalMuseum,housesthepermanentexhibitionentitledFiveCenturiesoftheMercuryMineandtheTownofIdr-

ija.Thedocuments,maps,photosofIdrijaandauthenticobjectsondisplaypresentminingactivitiesthroughthecenturies,thedevelopmentofforestryandtimberfloat-ing.Thegeologicalcollectionfeaturesfossils,rocks,mer-curyoresandminerals,andisoneofthemostimportantcollectionsofitskindinSlovenia.

ThemuseummanagesandmaintainsseveraltechnicalandculturalmonumentsinIdrija,including:thebuildingofFrancis’Shaftexhibitingrestoredminemachinery,theKamšt water wheel – the largest preserved device of itskindintheworld,andtheMiner’shouseinBazoviškauli-ca,whichpresentsthelivesofminers’familiesinthepast.TouristsmayalsowishtovisittheauthenticallypreservedSloveniaPartisanPrintingShopatVojsko.

TheIdrijaLaceSchoolisapubliclaceschoolfunctioningwithintheJurijVegaSecondarySchoolinIdrija.Thepri-maryactivityoftheIdrijaLaceSchoolwasandcontinuestobetheeducationofchildrenandyouthinlacemakingaccordingtotheschool’sstudyprogramforchildrenandyouth,aswellasvarioustargetgroupsofadults.

TheIdrijaMunicipalMuseumkeepsacollectionoflacearticlesandlacemakingpatterns,rangingfromtheold-estandtraditionallacepiecestomodernlydesignedlaceitemsandlacemakingpatterns.

The International Centre of Idrija Lace encourages andisresponsibleforIdrija’scooperationwithyoungtextiledesigners, as well as for protecting the designation oforiginofIdrijalace.

TheIdrijaWarMuseumdisplaystheregion’swarhistoryintheperiodbetween1900and1991.TheperiodsofthetwoworldwarsandtheSlovenianwarforindependencearepresentedinoriginalexhibitsofsoldiers’equipment,uniforms,weapons,hats,helmets,anddecorations.

Theaquariumfeaturesseveralbiotopesfromaroundtheworld,themostimportantbeingtheIdrijcaRiverbiotope.

Ondisplayintheformerminefirst-aidbuildingisanex-hibitionentitledFloraCarniolica–apictorialcollectionofplantsintheIdrijaandCerknoregions,accompaniedbyavideoprojectionandexpertguidance(leaflets,her-barium, copies of documents, and study material), – aswellasanexhibitionentitledLichensintheIdrijaRegion.

42


The protected Šturmajce homestead in Kanomlja is apreferredplaceoftheKanomljaTouristAssociationforthe organisation of various activities, workshops andlecturesaimedatpreservingruralknowledgeandskills,customsandtraditions.

FACILITIESOPENTOTHEPUBLICINTHEPROPOSEDGEOPARKAREA

AlongtheRakewaterchannelrunsanaturaleducation-al trail named Along the Path of Idrija’s Natural Scien-tists.Thetrailrevealsahighlyvariegatedrockstructure,plantsandbotanicalparticularities.NeartheentranceisScopoli’sMemorialGarden.

ThroughtheZgornjaIdrijcaLandscapeParkrunsanatu-raltrailthatleadstotheonlymuseuminnature–WildLake, where visitors may read the informative pannelsfeaturing geological and botanical descriptions. In theheartofthelandscapepark,thetrailrunspasttheIdrijaLauf–thefirstforestrailwayinEurope,andtheklavže–monumentalwaterbarriersintheIdrijcaandBelcariverbasins. All of the mentioned technical monuments arerestored and accompanied by informative panels. Thepark is a recreational centre of the Idrija region and atrueparadiseformountainbiking,Insummer,itattractsvisitors to the Lajšt natural bathing ground. We takeprideinthenewinformativepanelsinstalledinthepark.

ThenaturetrailalongtheVojskoplateau,abovethesteepbanksoftheIdrijcaandKanomljicarivers,offersamaz-ingviews,geologicalandmorphologicalparticularities.It is a true paradise for botanists, and features severalpreserved magnificent homesteads and monuments oftheliberationmovement.

The Matuckar trail in Zadlog takes visitors on a walkthroughthevillageheritage,featuringpreservedhome-steads, specimens of ethnological heritage, and severalnaturemonuments.

FootprintsofUpperTriassicreptiles:sixanimalfootprintsthatareover220millionyearsoldhavebeenfoundinapreservedstate.Aninformationalpanelissetupintheirvicinity.

SPORTFACILITIESANDRECREATIONSERVICES

Hikingtrails:theIdrijaandCerknohikingtrail,ViaAl-pina,Slovenianhikingtrail,andtheSloveniangeologicaltrail.Thediverseandpicturesquelandscapeisperfectlysuitableforallkindsofshortorlongerwalksandexcur-sions, easy to more demanding mountaineering tours,andorientationmarches.

Fig.D5–AlongtheRakeWaterChannel Fig.D6–Lajštbathingground

Fig.D4–LacemakingFig.D3–IdrijaLace

43


Cyclingroutes:

TheSmugglers’RouteontheLedineplateau.ItsnameisderivedfromsmugglingactivitiesbetweentheKingdomofItalyandYugoslavia.

RouteontheVojskoplateau.Cyclingalongthisrouteof-fersagreatmanyviewsfromtheplateauitselfandviewsofthesurroundings.

RoutealongtheBloudektrailonCrniVrhplateau, fea-turingnumerouskarstphenomena.

The Javornik Mountainbike Park is situated at theJavornikSkiCentreinthevillageofLome.

Skiing:Javornikskipistes,Vojsko.

Nordic walking paths: Črni Vrh, Vojsko Cross-countrySkiingCentre.

NaturalClimbingCentre:VillagesofGore,Strug,Marof.

BelaNaturalBaths:AttheconfluenceoftheIdrijcaRiverandBelcaStream.

Fishing in Idrija’s waters offers visitors a genuine experi-enceinunspoiltnaturalsurroundings.Thewatersarehometo several salmonid fish - primarily brown trout, rainbowtrout, grayling and, more recently, the precious marbletrout,anautochthonousfishspeciesoftheSočaRiverbasin.

Theregionisidealforhunting.Therearethreehuntingas-sociationsinthearea(LDIdrija,LDKrekovšeLD,Javornik)

Accommodation. The Geopark area offers 424 beds ininns,lodginghouses,ayouthhostel,touristfarms,pri-vateapartmentsandhotels.Morethanhalfofthelodg-ings are in Idrija, whereas the other half is distributedovertheentireIdrijaGeoparkarea.

Some local culinary dishes that carry the national andEuropeanlabelofa»guaranteedtraditionalspecialty«arežlikrofi(dumplings)andbakalca(lambandgoulash)cab-bage,smukavc(thickcabbageandpotatosoup),zelševka(poticawithherbfilling)madeof»šnitleh«(chives)fromthe home garden, and »geruš, an old miner’s drink«. Arichvarietyoflocaldishesarealsoservedinthesurround-ings–fromSpodnjaIdrijatoLedine,Vojsko,andČrniVrh.

MAJOREVENTS

Lace Festival: The annual Idrija Lace Festival is Idrija’smaintouristeventdevotedtothepresentationandpro-motion of lace. The festival is also a large cultural andsocialeventinthetown.

Castle Evenings in Idrija – cultural events in the castlecourtyard–insummer.

FeastoftheAssumption(VelikiŠmaren)–traditionallocalcelebrationoftheholidayinSpodnjaIdrija–15August

“FromGrain toBread” (Od zrnado kruha)–anethno-logicalevent(farmwork)inLedine–August.

Charcoalmakers’Sunday–anethnologicaleventonthethemeofcharcoalmakinginIdrijskeKrnice–firstSun-dayinSeptember.

PLANNEDFACILITIESFORTHEPROPOSEDGEOPARK

Smelting Plant (Idrija Mercury Mine): The smeltingplantisbeingrearrangedsoastoprovideadetailedpres-entationoforeprocessing.Infuture,theofficialseatoftheInformationandResearchCentreforMercury.

TheInformationandInterpretationCentreofIdrijaNatu-ralScienceHeritage–thestartingpointoftheGeopark,where visitors will receive a comprehensive overview ofIdrija’snaturalscience(geological,botanical,etc.)heritage.

KrekovšeintheLandscapePark–aforestrycentre.Šturmajce Homestead in Kanomlja – now setting upa centre for the preservation of old traditions, stories,knowledge,andskills.

The Mine geological collection will be enlarged with avideopresentationoftheoriginoftheoredeposit.

Arrangement and marking of nature trails connectingnaturalandculturalmonuments.In upcoming years, we shall continue presenting andmarkingthethematicpathsintheIdrijaGeoparkarea.

Fig.D7–Žlikrofi Fig.D8–Fishing

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D3 ANALYSISOFGEOTOURISMPOTENTIALOFTHEPROPOSEDGEOPARK

Inpastyears,Idrijahasbeenworkingonincreasingitsreputation through participation in internationally fo-cused projects, where it has received the title of “CityofAlps2011”.Idrijaisalsoa“EuropeanDestinationofExcellence 2011“ and a candidate for inclusion in theUnescoWorldHeritageList.

The Idrija Geopark has great potential for geotour-ism: a rich cultural and technical heritage – 500 yearsof mining and a long tradition in bobbin lacemaking,unspoiltnature,remarkablegeologicalphenomena,geo-morphologicallyvariedsurface,numerousbotanicalcu-riosities,andarichculturalheritage.

OneofthemaingoalsoftheIdrijaGeoparkistoen-couragesustainableactivitiestogetherwiththeprotectionanddevelopmentofgeologicalandotherheritage,render-ingthearea’sdevelopmentpossible,especiallyintourism.

D4 OVERVIEWANDPOLICIESFORTHESUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENTOF:

On the national level, the starting points and founda-tions of sustainable development as one of the key el-ements of Slovenia’s development are described in theSlovenianDevelopmentStrategy2013.Theorientationsof the sustainable development policy are described intheDevelopmentPlanandtheorientationsofSloveniantourism.Thepolicyofruralsustainabledevelopmentisspecified intheSlovenianRuralDevelopmentProgramfor the 2007–2013 program period, and is focused onhelpingruralareastolivetotheirpotentialasattractiveregionsforinvestments,workandlifeintherhythmoftheenvironmentandnaturalsources.

Attheregionallevel,oneofthreeaimsofcarryingsus-tainabledevelopmentprinciplesintoactionisdescribedin

theRegionalDevelopmentProgramofSevernaPrimorska(GoriškoStatisticalRegion)forthe2007-2013period.

Within the scope of approving the ImplementationPlan of the Regional Development Program for North-ernPrimorskaat itsmeetingheldon24Jan2011,theRegionalCouncilexpresseditssupportfortheactivitiesrelatedtotheestablishmentoftheIdrijaGeopark.

Atthelocallevel,sustainablepoliciesaredescribedinthestrategicandsectorspatialanddevelopmentdocu-ments.TheIdrijaGeoparkprogramfollowsthebasesoftheDevelopmentplanandstrategyoftourismmarketingupto2015,whichisthecentraldocumentfordirectingthedevelopmentoftouristeconomyandservicesinup-comingyearsintheregionoftheMunicipalityofIdrija,andtheLocaldevelopmentstrategyforthehighlandre-gionsofSevernaPrimorska.

Sustainabledevelopmentisdefinedintwokeydocu-ments:InnovativestrategyofsustainabledevelopmentoftheIdrijaMunicipalityandthe IdrijaMunicipalitySpa-tialPlan.TheIdrijaGeoparkisalsoanimportantinitiatorandsupporterofsustainabledevelopmentintheregion.

4.1GEO-TOURISMANDECONOMY

Idrija’s unspoilt nature offers active ways of spendingone’sfreetime:cycling,running,horse-backriding,fish-ing,Nordicwalking.

In recent years, numerous efforts have been devot-edtoencouraginglocalfarmerstoproducetypicallocalproduceandproducts,ensuringpromotion,andhelpingsalestogoup.Twiceaweek,thefarmersunitedunderthe“Grape”trademarkareprovidedwithacoveredareainwhichtoselltheirproduceandproducts.

4.2GEO-EDUCATION

AnimportantactivityoftheIdrijaGeoparkiseducatingyouth (kindergarten, primary school, secondary schoolanduniversitystudents)andincludingsomeofitspro-gramsintotheregularschoolcurriculuminthefieldsofecologyandenvironmentalprotection.

TheIdrijaMercuryMinecarriesoutnaturalsciencepro-gramsandeducatesstudentsfromtheprimaryschooltotheuniversitylevel(organisationofthemedays,geologi-calcavemappingforgeologystudents,…).

FigD9–ImprovingvisitorinfrastructureatWildLake.

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Naturesciences,geology:

Workshopandcourseentitled“SedimentaryrocksintheIdrijaregion”.

Geology workshop entitled “Getting to know rocks andfossils”oftheIdrijaregioninthegeologicalcollectionoftheIdrijaMunicipalMuseum.

Workshop,naturaleducationaltrailalongtheRakechan-nel,entitled“AlongthepathofIdrija’snaturalscientists”.Getting toknowplants, trees, rocks,karstphenomenaandtechnicalmonuments.

Lectureandworkshopfornaturalscienceteachers,enti-tled“Theoriginofsoil”:apresentationofsoiltypesandvegetationconnectedtodifferentsoiltypes.

Settingupalearningpolygonforundergroundgeologi-calmapping.OnlevelIIIoftheopenpartoftheorede-posit,105metersbelowthesurface,wehavearrangeda 100 meter-long mine route for practical exercises ingeologicalmapping.Atpresent,thisistheonlyopportu-nityforgeologystudentstobecomeacquaintedwithandtrainforundergroundgeologicalmapping.Thisprogramisavailabletominingsecondaryschoolsanduniversities.

Environment,ecology:

Lessonentitled“OnionisingradiationsourcesinIdrija”.A presentation of ionising radiation influences on theenvironment,measuringinstruments,andtheresultsofmeasurementsofionisingradiation,radonanditsshort-liveddaughtersinIdrija.

Lessonentitled“Lichenasamercuryairpollutionindi-catorinIdrija”.Onthesourcesandtransportofmercury,lichen,andthemonitoringofairpollutioninIdrijawiththehelpofepiphyticlichen.

Lesson entitled “Monitoring of the affected area of theIdrijaMercuryMine–minewateroutflows”.Circulationandtransportofmercuryintheenvironment,specimentaking,analysis,resultsandgoalsofwatermonitoring.

Lectureentitled“Idrija–anaturalmercurylaboratory”.Apresentationofenvironmentalissues(mercuryintheen-vironment,water,livingcreatures–videopresentation).

4.3GEO-HERITAGE

Geo-heritage is integrated in thematic nature sciencetrails,andisseen“insitu”,ingeologicalcollections,oc-casionalexhibitions,etc.

Geosites:

ArrangementofdescriptionpanelsandtrailsalongWildLake.Wehavesetupinformationsignsandprovidedforappropriatepresentationofthesites,andareimprovingtheexistingaccesspaths.Thiswillensureadequatepro-tectionofnatureaswellasthesafetyofvisitors.

Settingupageo-pointentitledFootprintsofUpperTrias-sicreptilesatMedvedjeBrdo.

PresentationofsedimentaryoresandtheoredepositintheMinegeologicalcollection.

Thematicpaths

Themostimportantgeologicalheritagesiteshavebeenconnectedbythematiceducationalpaths,andtheexist-ing cycling and hiking trails have been improved andrenderedevenmoreattractive.Publications entitled:ANatureGuidetotheLandscapePark,Vojskoplateau,AnatureeducationalpathalongRake,Scopoli’sMemorialGarden,etc.,havebeenissued.

Occasionalexhibitionsconnectedwithgeologicalheritage

The»AnnoDomini1511«exhibitionwassetuponthe500thanniversaryofthestrongestearthquakeinSlovenia.Theexhibitionresponds toquestions related toearthquakesand tectonic movements on our planet. Organized con-currentlywiththeexhibitionarevariousworkshops,the-maticlectures,andtoursoftheexhibition.

Another interestingexhibitionwassetupthisyear,entitled »Threads of Nature«, in which threads of laceareinterwovenintoimagesoftherockworld.StudentsmadelacepiecesfollowingthecontoursoftypicalrocksofIdrija.CooperationbetweentheIdrijaLaceSchoolandtheIdrijaGeoparkoffersagreatvarietyofpossibilitiesforcombiningnaturalsciencesandart,aswellasotherlearningandteachingtechniques.

Fig.D10–Undergroundgeologicalmapping

Figs.D11–WorkshopsattheAnnoDomini1511exhibition.

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D5 POLICIESFOR,ANDEXAMPLESOF,COMMUNITYEMPOWERMENT(INVOLVEMENTANDCONSULTATION)INTHEPROPOSEDGEOPARK

The establishment of the Idrija Heritage Centre has,throughtheIdrijaGeopark,connectedthemanagersofIdrija’snaturalandculturalheritage(publicinstitutions,associations,etc.)withtheaimofmanaging,preservingandpromotingIdrija’sheritage.

One of the forms of social connectivity are associa-tions,whichorganiseactivitiesaimedateducatingandqualifyingtheirmembersandinhabitants.

Anexampleofsuccessfulcooperationwiththelocalcommunityisthe“Fenix–thePulseofKanomlja”projectthataimstolivenupsociallifeandrenewoldruralprac-ticesandcustomsofKanomlja.

D6 POLICIESFOR,ANDEXAMPLESOF,PUBLICANDSTAKEHOLDERAWARENESSINTHEPROPOSEDGEOPARK

AnimportantGeoparkactivityistheintegralpresenta-tionofnatural,culturalandtechnicalheritagetothelo-calinhabitantsandthegeneralpublic,raisingawareness,andencouraginginhabitantstocontributetotheimpor-tanceofheritageconservation.

TheIdrijaGeoparkhasbeenpresentedtolocalcom-munities and experts on several occasions. During thepreparatoryyears,contactswereestablishedwithotherEuropeangeoparks, i.e.theFrenchDigne lesBainsGe-opark, Aroucha Park in Portugal, and the Magma Ge-oparkinNorway,allofwhichwerepresentedtoIdrija’slocalinhabitantsasexamplesofgoodpractices.

WiththehelpofLEADERfundsintheLASprogram,twoprogramshavebeencarriedout:Geologicalheritageinclusion into countryside tourism in the Idrijca Riverarea,andGeologicaltrails–Aninterpretationofnaturalheritage.Animportantactivityofbothprojectswasthepresentationofnaturalandculturalheritageofthecho-senthreethematicpathstolocalinhabitants.

Fig.D15–»ThreadsofNature«exhibition.

Figs.D12–Ladinianbeds

Figs.D14–Ladinianbedstransformedintoalacepatternbyastu-dentoftheIdrijaLaceSchool.

Figs.D13–Lacemaking


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The Idrija Geopark covers the entire area of the IdrijaMunicipality, its main particularity being its mercuryore deposit, whose extraordinary geological formationmakesitsuniqueintheworld.

Thefirstindividualtocomeupwiththeideaofestab-lishingtheIdrijaGeoparkwasBojanRežun,ageologistoftheIdrijaMercuryMine,whopresentedtheideaatthe7thEuropeanGeoparkAssociationconferenceinScotlandin2007.Theprogressmadeeachyearwasregularlyreport-edatconferencesinGermanyin2008,Portugalin2009,Greecein2010andNorwayin2011.Ateamofgeologistsand employees of the Municipality formed a workingbody,andmanagedtoestablishconstructivecooperationwiththeArouchaGeoparkfromPortugalandtheMagmaGeoparkfromNorway.DuringtheBestPracticesforthecreationandpromotionofGeoparksproject,wepartici-pated at a consultation in the Haute Provence GeoparkinFrance.Theyear2010representedaturningpoint:bypassingamunicipalact,theIdrijaMunicipalityfoundedapublicinstitution,theIdrijaHeritageCentre,underthedi-rectionofwhichtheIdrijaGeoparkwasformallyfounded.

The Idrija Municipality has been conscious of thevalueofminingheritageforseveralyears,andhasbeendevotingextensiveeffortsintoitspreservation,maythisbebyformalprotectionorbypreservingandrenovatingobjects of technical heritage. The remarkable value ofthisheritagehaspressedIdrijafrom2008onwardtoap-plyforinclusionontheUNESCOListofWorldHeritagetogetherwiththebiggestmercurymineintheworld,Al-madéninSpain.In2009,atasessioninSeville,UNESCOproclaimed mercury mining to be an activity of “Out-standingUniversalValue”.

TheIdrijaMunicipalityisengagedinsustainablede-velopmenteffortsandrealisestheseeffortsthroughvari-ousprojects.Withinthisperiod,theInnovativeStrategyof Sustainable Development of the Idrija Municipalitywasprepared,andalsoincludestheIdrijaGeopark.Thisyear,Idrijabearstheflatteringtitle““EuropeanDestina-tionofExcellence2011“,givenbytheEuropeanCommis-“,givenbytheEuropeanCommis-,givenbytheEuropeanCommis-sion,andthetitle“AlpineCityof2011”,whichstandsasevidenceofthefulfilmentoftheAlpineConvention.Through the establishment of the Idrija Geopark, ourgoalistofunctionasalinkbetweendifferentactorsstriv-ingforsustainabledevelopment.TheGeoparkasawayoflifemustbecomeaneedthatwillcontributetobetterconnectivityamongparticipatorsinthecountryside,co-

operationwitheducationalinstitutions,educationalpro-grams, motivation of individuals to form new and sup-plementaryactivitiesinthecountryside,andincreasingthereputationoftheIdrijaregionwithinthecountryandabroad.ByencouragingyoungSlovenianresearchers,wewishtocontributetodirectedresearchoftheIdrijaarea,improvingourknowledgeofthehomeenvironment.Wehopetoencouragetheexistingsynergyandpreservethenaturalandculturalparticularitiesoftheregionbyjoin-ing EGN and GGN. The new development possibilitiesprovidedbytheGeoparkcoincideperfectlywiththeex-istingdevelopmentstrategiesoftheIdrijaMunicipality,the goal of which is to ensure nature and environmentprotection,butalsokeepthecountrysidepopulated,en-ablethedevelopmentofnewjobsand,lastbutnotleast,keeppeoplecontent.AllofthesegoalsmaybeachievedwithintheframeworkofEGNandGGNwiththesupportofandcooperationwithothergeoparks.

E. INTERESTANDARGUMENTS FORJOININGTHEEGN/GGN

Fig.D16–UpperIdrijca

Thisdossieriswrittenby:

MartinaPeljhan(IdrijaMercuryMine–Geologist)

BojanRežun(IdrijaMercuryMine–Geologist)

MartinaStupar(InstituteoftheRepublicofSloveniaforNatureConservation–RegionalUnitNovaGorica.-Geologist,

natureconservationconsultant)

MojcaKavcicGorjup(IdrijaMunicipality-Geologist)

JožeCar(Expert–Geologist)

TatjanaBedeneBencina(IdrijaMunicipality–Geographer)

AndrejaTrojarLapajne(DevelopmentAgencyofIdrijaandCerkno)

SimonBizjak(IdrijaMunicipality,Lawyer)

AnkaVoncina(IdrijaMuseumAssociation)

MarijaBavdaž(Expert–Botanist)

ErnestaDrole(InstitutefortheProtectionofCulturalHeritage ofSlovenija,RegionalUnitNovaGorica-Historian, cultureconservationconsultant)

Translatedby:SuzanaStancic andSonjaBencina

Design:JakaModicandIvanaKadivec

Drawingby:AndrejAlbreht,RafaelBizjak,StašaCernatic, JakaModic,MartinaPišlar

Photoby:IztokBoncina,BogdanKladnik,JaniPeternelj, MartinaStupar,AleksanderŠinkovec,SamoTrebižan, AnkaVoncina,RobertZabukovec,DunjaWedam.

Idrija,November2011

Documents

IDRIJA GEOPARK - Geopark Idrija · The closest airport is the national Jože Pučnik Airport Ljubljana at Brnik, situated 76 km from the area. The principal road connection through