Pohorje

Position of the Pohorje

The Pohorje near Marburg

The Pohorje, Pohorje German (or Pohorje, mostly short Bachem ), is a densely forested mountain range in northern Slovenia. In about the hill country Dravograd ( west) and Konjice (south) is through the city triangle Maribor ( East), limited. Its east-west extent is about 50 kilometers by 30 kilometers north to south. The Pohorje is populated only very thin, but plays a major role both in the Slovenian winter tourism ( women's World Cup race for the Golden Fox ), as well as hiking and recreation area in summer and autumn.

Location

The Pohorje is a broad ridge, which extends over approximately 1,000 square kilometers south of the Drava River. He is a densely wooded ridge with no prominent peak. The highest elevations are the Crni Vrh / black mountain ( 1543 m), the only one meter lower Velika Kopa, and Rogla lying further south, the 1517 müa rises. It is bordered on the west by the territory Mislinja ( Mißling ) and in the south by the dravinjska ( drann ), to the east of the ridge falls in Maribor to Ptuj plain ( Pettauer field ) from.

Geology

The Pohorje is one of the Central Alps; geology is a connection to the north-west Lavanttaler Alps (among Koralpe and Saualpe ). In its central part of the Pohorje from Silkatgesteinen, especially from tonalite and dacite is built. In the peripheral areas outweigh metamorphic ( crystalline ) gneisses. In the southeastern part of some areas of Triaskalken are superimposed. Among geologists, the area is further known by a gabbroides rock, the Cizlakit, a solid, green -gray material that was already in antiquity use and has been used in modern times, especially for grave stones.

Landscape

The relatively high annual rainfall and the water-impermeable subsoil cause a large number of sources, small streams and creeks that flow in Pohorje, either north to go Drava, or dehydrate to save to the south. Overall, the Pohorje has the densest network of rivers in Slovenia. In the sometimes steep marginal areas, there are some pretty impressive waterfalls, such as the Great Šumik, near which is also the last undisturbed primary forest of the area.

In the central part of the Pohorje forms a plateau, which is partially cleared and used as pasture from time immemorial. This Planje mentioned pastures are home to some some very rare plant species. Also in the central part, at about 1400 meters above sea level, a largely outflow loose peat bog, in the many lakes and small ponds are embedded covers. Most of the Pohorje is however covered by contiguous, large and dense forests. Coniferous forests, firs and pines in the lower -lying areas, fir in the higher, dominate, but many other tree species, especially chestnuts are interspersed in these forests. A total of eleven areas are defined as forest reserves in which only a very limited and natural use is permitted.

Plant and animal world

In addition to some giant trees ( for example, the Marolt - fir ( Maroltova jelka ) or Dolar - chestnut), which are a global largest representatives of their species and be admired, especially by tourists, the area is popular with botanists primarily as a connecting region between the flora of the central central Europe and those Südmitteleuropas and Dinarikums known. As a typical silicate indicator the Alpenrose (Rhododendron ferrugineum ) is quite common, as arnica and various gentians, including the relatively rare Pannonian gentian ( Gentiana pannonica ). In the moors to find the plant communities of the extremely nutrient-poor rain Moore, round-leaved sundew including the (Drosera rotundifolia ). The forests are extremely rich in mushrooms. The Pohorje is a good wide for the Märzellerling ( Hygrophorus marzuolus ), in the southwestern and southern deciduous forest regions comes before the Königsröhrling (Boletus regius ). Occasionally, Caesar's mushrooms (Amanita Caesarea ) are found.

The fauna is very rich in species, though originally this native animal species such as the lynx (Lynx lynx), wolf (Canis lupus) and brown bear (Ursus arctos) have disappeared. Only occasionally change from brown bears Karavanke in this area, but so far no established stable population. Red deer (Cervus elaphus ), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and chamois (Rupicapra Rupicapra ) are today the most common large animals in the area. They receive intensive hunting and achieve - much to the detriment of ecostructure - About populations. Rarely, and like everywhere threatened by mixing with feral cats, wild cat is (Felis silvestris ssp. Silvestris ), and otter ( Lutra lutra ) were able to hold only in some areas of the Pohorje.

The large, some of them very rich deadwood forest area, home to many species of birds. All European woodpecker species occur as breeding birds in the area, even capercaillie ( Tetrao urogallus) and black grouse ( Lyrurus tetrix ) are still relatively frequent. On the clear, fast-flowing streams the Dipper ( Cinclus cinclus ) is native. Occasionally, it also breeds the Ural owl (Strix uralensis) in the forests of Pohorje.

Particularly rich in species is the insect fauna. About 700 different species of butterflies come in Pohorje before, including the very rare Hochmoorbläuling ( Plebius optilete ) and the great peacock moth ( Saturnia pyri). Only in 1980 was a Steinfliegenart, Leuctra istenicae, discovered as endemic species in the area of ​​Ribniško Lake.

Colonization

The Pohorje is only sparsely populated. Mostly seasonal pasture and grazing was operated on the cleared areas, the villages are located in the Vorgebirgstälern and in the basin. The only major settlement in the central Pohorje is Lovrenc na Pohorju. In south-facing, sun- exposed areas are a few small estates whose residents were able to practice subsistence farming. Today, many of these hamlets are deserted. In addition to this self-sustaining agriculture felling and charcoal were the main sources of income of the people living here. The charcoal catered primarily regionally important glassworks with energy. Characteristic of the area are some secluded churches, of which Henry Church Sveti Areh from the late 17th century is the most famous.