Kranjska Gora
Encyclopedia
Kranjska Gora is a town and a municipality on the Sava Dolinka
River in the Upper Carniola
region of northwest Slovenia
, close to the Austria
n and Italian
borders.
Kranjska Gora is best known as a winter sports town, being situated in the Julian Alps
. It annually hosts an event in the Alpine skiing World Cup
series, also known as the Vitranc Cup for the slalom
and giant slalom events. The well-known ski jumping hill Planica
is located in the nearby Tamar Valley.
, a typical Alpine valley.
Located at the far northwest of Slovenia where the borders of Slovenia, Austria, and Italy meet, the valley is embraced on the north and south by the towering peaks of the Karavanke Mountains and the Julian Alps
. In the east its border runs just below the town of Jesenice, where the valley opens up towards the Radovljica Valley, extending in the west along the water-shed between the Sava and Slizza
rivers, just west of Rateče
. In the north the Wurzenpass
at Podkoren
leads to Arnoldstein
in Carinthia
, in the south the Vršič
Pass connects it with Trenta
in the Slovenian Littoral
region.
The Upper Sava Valley has an Alpine climate
with its long, snow-abundant winters and shorter summers with moderate temperatures, easterly winds and sufficient rain to maintain the valley's greenery. The winter usually stays in the valley for between four and five months, and a blanket of snow usually covers the valley for just around four months. The lowest daytime temperature in January sometimes reaches -8 °C, while on average it usually warms up during the day to just over freezing point. The average temperature in the hottest summer months is 10 °C (50 °F) in the morning, rising up to around 23 °C (73 °F) during the day. In winter, there are large differences between the sunny and shady slopes embracing the valley. The sunny slopes are accommodating to hikes and strolls, while the shady slopes retain a snow blanket.
, Belgium
Sava Dolinka
The Sava Dolinka is a headwater of the Sava River in northwestern Slovenia. The 45 km Sava Dolinka starts as Nadiža Creek in the Planica Valley under Mount Zadnja Ponca in the Julian Alps, at an elevation of 1222 m, close to the Italian border. The stream goes underground soon after its source and...
River in the Upper Carniola
Upper Carniola
Upper Carniola is a traditional region of Slovenia, the northern mountainous part of the larger Carniola region. The centre of the region is Kranj, while other urban centers include Jesenice, Tržič, Škofja Loka, Kamnik, and Domžale.- Historical background :...
region of northwest 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...
, close to the 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...
n and Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
borders.
Kranjska Gora is best known as a winter sports town, being situated in the Julian Alps
Julian Alps
The Julian Alps are a mountain range of the Southern Limestone Alps that stretches from northeastern Italy to Slovenia, where they rise to 2,864 m at Mount Triglav. They are named after Julius Caesar, who founded the municipium of Cividale del Friuli at the foot of the mountains...
. It annually hosts an event in the Alpine skiing World Cup
Alpine skiing World Cup
The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup is the top international circuit of alpine skiing competitions, launched in 1966 by a group of ski racing friends and experts which included French journalist Serge Lang and the alpine ski team directors from France and the USA...
series, also known as the Vitranc Cup for the slalom
Slalom skiing
Slalom is an alpine skiing discipline, involving skiing between poles spaced much closer together than in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill, thereby causing quicker and shorter turns.- Origins :...
and giant slalom events. The well-known ski jumping hill Planica
Planica
Planica is an alpine valley in northwestern Slovenia, extending south from the border village of Rateče, not far from another well-known ski resort, Kranjska Gora. Further south, the valley extends into the Tamar Valley, a popular hiking destination in Triglav National Park.Planica is famous for...
is located in the nearby Tamar Valley.
Geography and climate
The municipality of Kranjska Gora is situated in the Upper Sava ValleyUpper Sava Valley
The Upper Sava Valley is an alpine valley in the Upper Carniola region of Slovenia. The Sava Dolinka river flows along it. It begins in Rateče at an altitude of 870 m and ends at Moste at 560 m. It is the geographical border between the Julian Alps and the Karavanke Alps. It was created on a...
, a typical Alpine valley.
Located at the far northwest of Slovenia where the borders of Slovenia, Austria, and Italy meet, the valley is embraced on the north and south by the towering peaks of the Karavanke Mountains and the Julian Alps
Julian Alps
The Julian Alps are a mountain range of the Southern Limestone Alps that stretches from northeastern Italy to Slovenia, where they rise to 2,864 m at Mount Triglav. They are named after Julius Caesar, who founded the municipium of Cividale del Friuli at the foot of the mountains...
. In the east its border runs just below the town of Jesenice, where the valley opens up towards the Radovljica Valley, extending in the west along the water-shed between the Sava and Slizza
Slizza
The Slizza is an Alpine torrent in Italy and Austria, a right tributary of the Gail river.Its source is below the Sella Nevea pass of the Julian Alps, where it is known as the Rio del Lago. Its valley leads to the north-west towards the town of Tarvisio, where it enters the Val Canale and its...
rivers, just west of Rateče
Ratece
-External links:** *...
. In the north the Wurzenpass
Wurzenpass
The Wurzen Pass or Korensko sedlo or simply Koren is a high mountain pass in a col of the Karawanken mountain range in the Southern Limestone Alps, at the border between Arnoldstein in the Austrian state of Carinthia and Kranjska Gora in Slovenia...
at Podkoren
Podkoren
Podkoren is a settlement in the Kranjska Gora municipality in the Upper Carniola region of Slovenia. The village church is dedicated to Saint Andrew and is of late Gothic origin as are many houses in the village, but was largely refurbished in the Baroque style.Podkoren lies immediately below the...
leads to Arnoldstein
Arnoldstein
Arnoldstein is a market town in the district of Villach-Land in the Austrian state of Carinthia.-Location:Arnoldstein is located at Austria's southern border between the Carnic Alps and the Karawanken mountain range, near the confluence of the Gailitz and the Gail River...
in Carinthia
Carinthia (state)
Carinthia is the southernmost Austrian state or Land. Situated within the Eastern Alps it is chiefly noted for its mountains and lakes.The main language is German. Its regional dialects belong to the Southern Austro-Bavarian group...
, in the south the Vršič
Vršic
Vršič is a high mountain pass across the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia.The road across the pass was built for military purposes, to supply the Isonzo front of World War I. Opened in late 1915, it was originally named after archduke Eugen of Austria-Hungary...
Pass connects it with Trenta
Trenta, Slovenia
Trenta is a settlement in the Municipality of Bovec in the Goriška traditional region of the western Slovenia. It lies on the river Soča along the road from the Vršič Pass to Bovec and encompasses the Trenta Valley and its side valleys....
in the Slovenian Littoral
Slovenian Littoral
The Slovenian Littoral is a historical region of Slovenia. Its name recalls the historical Habsburg crown land of the Austrian Littoral, of which the Slovenian Littoral was a part....
region.
The Upper Sava Valley has an Alpine climate
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
with its long, snow-abundant winters and shorter summers with moderate temperatures, easterly winds and sufficient rain to maintain the valley's greenery. The winter usually stays in the valley for between four and five months, and a blanket of snow usually covers the valley for just around four months. The lowest daytime temperature in January sometimes reaches -8 °C, while on average it usually warms up during the day to just over freezing point. The average temperature in the hottest summer months is 10 °C (50 °F) in the morning, rising up to around 23 °C (73 °F) during the day. In winter, there are large differences between the sunny and shady slopes embracing the valley. The sunny slopes are accommodating to hikes and strolls, while the shady slopes retain a snow blanket.
Twin towns — Sister cities
WaasmunsterWaasmunster
Waasmunster is a municipality located in the Flemish province of East Flanders, in Belgium. The municipality only comprises the town of Waasmunster proper. On January 1, 2010 Waasmunster had a total population of 10,412. The total area is 31.93 km² which gives a population density of 323...
, Belgium