Ilirska Bistrica

Description:

Ilirska Bistrica is a town and a municipality in Slovenia. It belongs to the traditional region of Inner Carniola. The municipality of Ilirska Bistrica lies at the juncture of the roads between Trieste (Italy), Rijeka (Croatia) and Ljubljana, near the boarder with Croatia. It spreads over the valley under Mount Snežnik ( 1.796 m), measures 480 km2 and contains about 14.300 inhabitants. The Reka river dominates the diverse landscape, from the mountainous districts of the mighty forests of Snežnik to the hilly Brkini and the hillsides of Čičarija.

Ilirska Bistrica is located beside a river and beside a lake in the countryside and her height above sea level is 406 m. In the summer the average temperature is 23 °C and the average winter temperature is 5 °C.

It is divided into the following natural areas:

1. Snežnik Plateau (Snežniška planota) with Javorniki

Snežnik is the highest non-Alpine mountain, a popular mountain peak, with the riches of the Snežnik forest, grassland valleys, the wild karst landscapes with abysses and precipice walls, and the areas of eternal ice, with unique vegetation, the remains of Ilyric fortifications, the Roman defence walls and the remains of the former Italian border with a great number of underground caverns, barracks, border posts and water reservoirs. Snežnik, the Glacier cave under it, Mašun abyss, Kozlek and Gomanci are renowned for recreation, skiing, fun games in the snow, hunting, photography, educational workshops, and for education on local flora and fauna.

2.The Reka river Valley ( Dolina reke Reke)

From the spring at the foot of Gomanci to the Škocjanske Caves, it is ideal for water sports, such as rafting, fishing tourism, photography and more. By the spring of the river lies Dleto, a narrow valley, which stretches through the woodland. Further along the trail by the river there are remnants of old mills, among them the home of the poetess Maksa Samsa.