Kamnik Alps
Encyclopedia
The Kamnik–Savinja Alps are a mountain range, part of the Southern Limestone Alps
in north Slovenia
and at the border with Austria
. Its western part, the Kamnik Alps, is in the basin of the Kamniška Bistrica
and is named after the town Kamnik
. Its eastern part is in the basin of Savinja
and is called the Savinja Alps , ( or Sulzbacher Alpen) because the main river of the chain is the Savinja
. There is also a small glacier under Skuta
which is the most eastern glacier in the Southern Alps.
and Savinja. Historically they were the border between the duchies of Carinthia, Styria and Carniola
. The tripoint
was located on the Uršlja Mountain .
In total, 28 peaks surpass 2,000 m. The total area of the Slovene part is about 900 km². About three quarters of the surface are overgrown with forest while many of the higher peaks are bleak and rocky.
River. The northwestern border is with the Karavanke Alps
and the Vellach Valley.
The most important passes
between the Carinthian and Upper Carniolian sides of the mountains are the Jezersko Pass
, and the Pavlič Pass
, . On the Slovenian side, there is a skiing area, whereas tourism in the Vellach Valley focuses on health spa
s.
Southern Limestone Alps
The Southern Limestone Alps are the ranges of the Eastern Alps south of the Central Eastern Alps mainly located in northern Italy and the adjacent lands of Austria and Slovenia. The distinction from the Central Alps, where the higher peaks are located, is based on differences in geological...
in north Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
and at the border with Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. Its western part, the Kamnik Alps, is in the basin of the Kamniška Bistrica
Kamniška Bistrica
Kamniška Bistrica is an Alpine river in northern Slovenia, left tributary of the river Sava. It springs from the Kamnik Alps , near the border with Austria. It is long. The Kamniška Bistrica flows through the town of Kamnik, where it is fed by the river Nevljica...
and is named after the town Kamnik
Kamnik
Kamnik is the name of a municipality in Slovenia as well as the town that serves as its administrative, cultural, economic, and educational center. The municipality is in north central Slovenia. It encompasses a large part of the Kamnik Alps and the surrounding area...
. Its eastern part is in the basin of Savinja
Savinja
The Savinja is a river in northeast Slovenia which flows mostly in the Upper and Lower Savinja valley and through the cities of Celje and Laško. The Savinja is the main river of the Savinja Alps . It flows into Sava River at the town of Zidani Most. It has often flooded, such as in the 1960s,...
and is called the Savinja Alps , ( or Sulzbacher Alpen) because the main river of the chain is the Savinja
Savinja
The Savinja is a river in northeast Slovenia which flows mostly in the Upper and Lower Savinja valley and through the cities of Celje and Laško. The Savinja is the main river of the Savinja Alps . It flows into Sava River at the town of Zidani Most. It has often flooded, such as in the 1960s,...
. There is also a small glacier under Skuta
Skuta
Skuta is the third highest peak in the Kamnik Alps and is known by its glacier which is the most eastern in the Alps.-External links:* *...
which is the most eastern glacier in the Southern Alps.
Location
The Kamnik–Savinja Alps are located at the border of Austria and Slovenia, between the rivers River SavaSava River
The Sava is a river in Southeast Europe, a right side tributary of the Danube river at Belgrade. Counting from Zelenci, the source of Sava Dolinka, it is long and drains of surface area. It flows through Slovenia, Croatia, along the northern border of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and through Serbia....
and Savinja. Historically they were the border between the duchies of Carinthia, Styria and Carniola
Carniola
Carniola was a historical region that comprised parts of what is now Slovenia. As part of Austria-Hungary, the region was a crown land officially known as the Duchy of Carniola until 1918. In 1849, the region was subdivided into Upper Carniola, Lower Carniola, and Inner Carniola...
. The tripoint
Tripoint
A tripoint, or trijunction , is a geographical point at which the borders of three countries or subnational entities meet....
was located on the Uršlja Mountain .
Peaks
The most important peaks are:- GrintovecGrintovecAt high, Grintovec is the highest mountain in the Kamnik–Savinja Alps. It is a popular location for hiking, climbing and skiing. The first recorded ascent was in 1759 by the botanist Giovanni Antonio Scopoli....
– 2558 m (8,392 ft) - Jezerska Kočna – 2540 m (8,333 ft)
- SkutaSkutaSkuta is the third highest peak in the Kamnik Alps and is known by its glacier which is the most eastern in the Alps.-External links:* *...
– 2532 m (8,307 ft) - Ojstrica (2,350 m or 7,710 feet)
- Storžič (2,132 m)
In total, 28 peaks surpass 2,000 m. The total area of the Slovene part is about 900 km². About three quarters of the surface are overgrown with forest while many of the higher peaks are bleak and rocky.
Borders and passes
To the east, the Kamnik–Savinja Alps border the Celje Hills at the DravinjaDravinja
The Dravinja River is the largest tributary of the Drava River in Slovenia. It is long. Its source is on the Pohorje Massif southwest of Mount Rogla about 1,150 m above sea level. The river passes Zreče, the town of Slovenske Konjice, the ruins of the fort at Zbelovo, Poljčane, Makole, Štatenberg...
River. The northwestern border is with the Karavanke Alps
Karawanken
Karavanke or Karawanken is an Alpine mountain range on the border between Slovenia and Austria. With a total length of 120 km, the Karavanke chain is one of the longest ranges in Europe....
and the Vellach Valley.
The most important passes
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
between the Carinthian and Upper Carniolian sides of the mountains are the Jezersko Pass
Seebergsattel
Seebergsattel , also just Seeberg is a high mountain pass connecting Bad Eisenkappel in the Austrian state of Carinthia with Jezersko in the Slovenian region of Carinthia...
, and the Pavlič Pass
Pavlicevo sedlo
The Pavlič Pass or just Pavlič is a mountain pass which connects the Slovenian municipality of Solčava in the historical region of Lower Styria with the Austrian state of Carinthia....
, . On the Slovenian side, there is a skiing area, whereas tourism in the Vellach Valley focuses on health spa
Destination spa
A destination spa is a short term residential/lodging facility with the primary purpose of providing individual services for spa-goers to develop healthy habits. Historically many such spas were developed at the location of natural hot springs or sources of mineral waters...
s.