Postojna Gate
Encyclopedia
The Postojna Gate also Adriatic Gate and Italo-Illyrian Gate, is a major mountain pass
of the Dinaric Alps
. Located in Slovenia
, the pass's approximately 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) wide saddle allows for the lowest crossing of the Dinaric Alps, at an elevation of 606 metres (1,988.2 ft). and a second higher crossing at the Hrušica
plateau. It is bordered to the south by the Javornik Hills and to the north by the Trnovo Forest. The gate connects the Pannonian Plain, the eastern Alps
, the western Balkans, and Czech territories with northern Italy
and the northeastern Adriatic coast. It is a watershed between the Adriatic and the Danubian drainage basin
s and takes its name from the local town of Postojna
.
The gate was used by a section of the Amber Road
that connected the Baltic lands with the Adriatic. It has been proposed that the voyage of the Argonauts
is based on the possibility to travel the Danube
, the Sava, and the Ljubljanica
rivers upstream, cross the Postojna Gate, and come to the Adriatic Sea downstream on the western side. The Romans were well aware that their core territory was threatened by easy access through the Postojna Gate and they created a network of strategic roads, castles, and walls, the Claustra Alpium Iuliarum, to stop possible invaders. At the center of these fortifications was the hill fortress of Ad Pirum on the Hrušica Plateau controlling the Roman road between Ljubljana and northern Italy. The Postojna Gate was crossed by the Alemanni, the Goths, and the Huns when they invaded Italy. By about AD 600 Slavs populated the area and crossed the gate to enter the Istria
n peninsula. In the middle ages a number of castles were built, including Predjama Castle
, Prem Castle, and Sovič Castle.
In modern times, the gap was crossed by the Austrian Southern Railway
(Südbahn), the railway that was built between 1839 and 1857 to connect Vienna
via Ljubljana
to Trieste
. The Slovenian A1 freeway
passes through the gate.
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...
of the Dinaric Alps
Dinaric Alps
The Dinaric Alps or Dinarides form a mountain chain in Southern Europe, spanning areas of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro....
. Located in 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...
, the pass's approximately 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) wide saddle allows for the lowest crossing of the Dinaric Alps, at an elevation of 606 metres (1,988.2 ft). and a second higher crossing at the Hrušica
Hrušica (plateau)
Hrušica is a plateau at the northern end of the Postojna Gate. The plateau can be viewed as the end or extension of the Trnovski gozd, to the west is the Nanos mountain. The limestone plateau reaches an altitude of 1,080 m, while the road crosses it at 883 m...
plateau. It is bordered to the south by the Javornik Hills and to the north by the Trnovo Forest. The gate connects the Pannonian Plain, the eastern Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
, the western Balkans, and Czech territories with northern Italy
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...
and the northeastern Adriatic coast. It is a watershed between the Adriatic and the Danubian drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
s and takes its name from the local town of Postojna
Postojna
Postojna is a town and a municipality in the traditional region of Inner Carniola, from Trieste, in southwestern Slovenia. Population 14,581 .-History:...
.
The gate was used by a section of the Amber Road
Amber Road
The Amber Road was an ancient trade route for the transfer of amber. As one of the waterways and ancient highways, for centuries the road led from Europe to Asia and back, and from northern Africa to the Baltic Sea....
that connected the Baltic lands with the Adriatic. It has been proposed that the voyage of the Argonauts
Argonauts
The Argonauts ) were a band of heroes in Greek mythology who, in the years before the Trojan War, accompanied Jason to Colchis in his quest to find the Golden Fleece. Their name comes from their ship, the Argo, which was named after its builder, Argus. "Argonauts", therefore, literally means...
is based on the possibility to travel the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
, the Sava, and the Ljubljanica
Ljubljanica
The Ljubljanica is a river in the southern part of Ljubljana Basin in Slovenia. The capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, is situated on the river. The Ljubljanica rises to the south of the town Vrhnika and outflows in the Sava River about downstream from Ljubljana. Its largest affluent is Mali graben....
rivers upstream, cross the Postojna Gate, and come to the Adriatic Sea downstream on the western side. The Romans were well aware that their core territory was threatened by easy access through the Postojna Gate and they created a network of strategic roads, castles, and walls, the Claustra Alpium Iuliarum, to stop possible invaders. At the center of these fortifications was the hill fortress of Ad Pirum on the Hrušica Plateau controlling the Roman road between Ljubljana and northern Italy. The Postojna Gate was crossed by the Alemanni, the Goths, and the Huns when they invaded Italy. By about AD 600 Slavs populated the area and crossed the gate to enter the Istria
Istria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
n peninsula. In the middle ages a number of castles were built, including Predjama Castle
Predjama Castle
thumb|right|250px|Predjama CastlePredjama Castle is a Renaissance castle built within a cave mouth in southwestern Slovenia. It is located approximately 11 kilometres from Postojna.-History of the castle:...
, Prem Castle, and Sovič Castle.
In modern times, the gap was crossed by the Austrian Southern Railway
Austrian Southern Railway
The Austrian Southern Railway was an Austrian railway company established in 1841...
(Südbahn), the railway that was built between 1839 and 1857 to connect Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
via Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
to Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
. The Slovenian A1 freeway
A1 motorway (Slovenia)
The A1 motorway is 236,1 km long, connecting Šentilj and Koper/Capodistria . It passes several important Slovenian cities, including Maribor, Celje and Ljubljana all the way to the Slovenian Littoral and Koper, with its important port.Construction began in 1970 and the first section was...
passes through the gate.