Introduction

Abstract

Slovenia lies at a crossroads of major traffic routes connecting Central Europe with the Mediterranean Area, the Mediterranean Area with the Pannonian Basin, and the Pannonian Basin with the Alps. Slovenian motorways entail an approx. 615 km long network of roads. Almost half of Slovenia consists of karst and more than half of the country’s water supply comes from karst aquifers. Slovenia is the country of the original Karst, which gave its name to a peculiar landscape on carbonate rocks in numerous languages, and is, in fact, the cradle of karstology. The delicate karst landform requires thorough knowledge of its characteristics, and concerted preservation efforts for it is an integral part of our natural and cultural heritage. This volume is the result of years of experience which karstologists have obtained from studying karst features in the course of motorway construction where they are still involved in the planning and monitoring of the construction works. In addition, it references some of the most recent findings made in karstology. It was established that some, otherwise well-familiar, karst features have been neglected in karst studies. Therefore, the relevant examples from the original Karst, the low karst of the Dolenjska region and the karst in the breccias of the Vipava valley, have been highlighted. When outlining the route of the motorways and railway lines, karstologists make an effort to not interfere with the integrity of the karst landscape. Fundamental guidelines applying to planning traffic roads can be summed up as such: route selection is based on an overall assessment of karst with emphasis on the local characteristics; the selected course of the route makes sure to bypass individual distinct karst features; one of the priority objectives in the course of planning is to preserve the karst aquifer. During construction works some caves and shafts were also fully protected and left open to access, the most interesting and well-preserved among them even as a touristic attraction.