Landscape park of Pivka intermittent lakes – The seasonal lakes of Pivka Nature park is located in the south west part of Slovenia. Its east border connects with Notranjska regional park and its western buffer zone borders withŠkocjan caves Regional park’s buffer zone.
99% of the park area is included in the Natura 2000 network.
Pivka is a karst landscape formed by water and shaped by man.
The water truly dictates the rhythm between the two extremes – severe drought and flooded fields. The landscape’s intertwining of fields, meadows and forests tells us a story of how man has adapted to the rhythmic change dictated by water.
After heavy rains, Karst depressions fill with water and intermittent lakes emerge; therefore, they are called seasonal. The Pivka region is covered with 17 seasonal lakes, the large number of those is what makes them unique.
Their mysterious disappearance into the karstic underground world in summer gives way to marvellous meadows covered with fragrant flowers, colourful butterflies and bird song.
The initiative for protecting the area came from the Municipality of Pivka in 2012. The reason for this was mostly the concern about clean drinking water.
There are 117 nature monuments inside the park. The variety of species in the region is also very large, as researchers have found there are 182 plant species, 211 beetle species, 106 species of butterflies and 133 bird species. The area is also an important habitat for large carnivores, e.g. bears, wolves and lynxes. Many species of flora and fauna which thrive here, are endangered in other areas or have even already disappeared.
The mysterious lake landscape changes every day, so one can visit it again and again and it will always be different. The rich cultural heritage which reaches all the way back to the Stone Age wrote many interesting stories, which are worth exploring.
There is a long tradition of stonemasonary in the are, where large stone crosses are found in the landscape, as well as many little old churches and old traditional homes.
Visitors can stay at b&b’s, farm stays, campsites or in the nearby hotels and apartments. There are a lot of hiking options and organized wildlife watching trips
The food is excellent in the region, you can get burja cured meat (pršut), sheep cheese and many other specialties typical just for this area, like krompir v zevnici which is boiled potatoes with sauerkraut.
The Seasonal Lakes of Pivka Nature Park is located 12 kms from world famous Postojna cave and 25 kms from Škocjan caves. Its only about 30 minutes to reach Croatian and Italian borders by car and 45 minutes to reach capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana.
It has good railway connection and lies 9 kms from highway A1.
Address
Slovenska vas 10, 6257 Pivka, Slovenia
Telephone
+386 31 775 002
+386 51 682 668
Web: www.pivskajezera.si
Mail: pivskajezera@pivka.si