Fieldtrips

Fieldtrips are focused on specific themes and links between geology and geoconservation. Aspects of the landscape and geology, (geo)tourism, interpretation, and environment of the chosen geosites and protected areas are going to be presented.

Transport is by coach. All fieldtrips depart from Ljubljana at 7:30 from the Hotel Park. Lunch will be provided. There will be short walks, so bring good shoes. As we are visiting an underground environment of one cave and two mines with the internal temperatures approximately 10 degrees centigrade, a sweater or fleece is recommended.

Friday 7th September
Day 3: Fieldtrip

STOP 1

Ljubljana castle
The fieldtrip will visit Ljubljana Castle Hill with the view on proposed landscape park Ljubljansko barje. Tectonically predisponed Ljubljansko barje basin (180 square kilometres) is situated south from Ljubljana and filled with up to 170 m Quaternary sediments. Southern edge of the Ljubljansko barje Basin consists of the numerous karst springs. The most important is Ljubljanica River spring and its flow from Vrhnika surroundings. Karst river Ljubljanica reappears after several surface and subsurface flows through the karst area of the south western Slovenia 
Excursion Leaders: Uroš Herlec, Bogomir Celarc, Tea Kolar Jurkovšek, Andrej Mihevc, Marko Simić

Saturday 8th September
Day 4: Fieldtrip

STOP 2

Karst polje with the intermitent lake Cerkniško jezero, karstic Ljubljanica
Along the famous Idrija fault there are series of karst poljes, which are part of Ljubljanica river system. Surface river sections appear only on poljes, while in between are connected by underground water flows. We shall visit most famous poljes: Cerkniško and Planinsko. At the Cerkniško polje there will be a focus on community action - how to use the science and the local knowledge for interpretation and how to make it work. Fieldtrip will visit the karstic phenomena interpretation model constructed and run by a local inhabitant.
Excursion Leaders: France Šušteršič, Andrej Mihevc, Marko Simić

STOP 3

Karst polje Planinsko polje, karstic Ljubljanica

At Planinsko polje there will be a focus on the problems and challenges of management of dynamic river and karstic systems in a changing economy: Planinsko polje is one of the most typical and in the same time one of the most preserved Dinaric karstic poljes; positive and negative effects of designations, how different modes of land ownership and economy affect the vast area of karstic Ljubljanica.
Excursion Leaders: France Šušteršič, Andrej Mihevc, Marko Simić

STOP 4

Senožeče – regional Raša fault at the outcrop along highway

Challenges of structural and tectonic geosites evaluation and how to interpret them to the public.

Excursion Leaders: Marko Vrabec

STOP 5

Škocjanske jame caves

Problems and challenges of UNESCO’s heritage, its management and sustainable tourism: interpretative methods, how different conservation perceptions could affect the area and the caves themselves. We will visit the Škocjanske jame caves, exceptional contact karst feature in the south-western Slovenia.
Excursion Leaders: France Šušteršič, Andrej Mihevc, Marko Simić, Park staff

STOP 6

Idrija Tourist mine

Geological heritage linked to mining realities, restructuring in terms of proposed World Heritage Site and geotourism perspective of Geopark. Traditionally, this was typical mining area with over 500 years of mine operation. Who can take control of its destiny today? How can be the outlook, opportunities and aspirations of the local communities changed? How can geotourism adapt to the challenges of the further development? We will visit the mine.
Excursion Leaders: Bojan Režun

18.00: Dinner in Idrija

Sunday 9th September
Day 5: Fieldtrip

STOP 7

Dovžanova soteska

Community action: the problems of mismanagement, challenges of proper management of natural monument, in situ and ex situ protection of fossils, interpretative methods, local community roles and consultancy needs, how different perception and modes of economy affect the area. We will visit the geological column as interpretation tool and Visitor Centre to explore do’s and dont’s.
Excursion Leaders: Matevž Novak, Branka Hlad, Marko Simić

STOP 8

Mežica tourist mine

Focus on community action and sustainable tourism; how to make it work in a sparsely populated area, and how to use sport, history and geology. How can mining geotourism adapt to the challenges of the 21st Century? This fieldtrip will visit the Mežica mine.

Excursion Leaders: Marko Vrabec, Uroš, Herlec, Suzana Fajmut Štrucl

STOP 9

Topla valley

Focus on Periadriatic fault zone. Geotourism challenges: development of interpretive facilities and services to promote the value and societal benefits of geologic and geomorphologic sites!

Topla mine with its unique stratiform early diagenetic Zn-Pb mineralization in the carbonate platform environment.

Excursion Leaders: Marko Vrabec, Uroš Herlec

18.00: Dinner in Črna na Koroškem