Križna jama

Infobox Cave
name = Križna jama
photo = Burger_KriznaJama_02.jpg
caption = Križna jama at the Port of Venice
location = Loška dolina, Slovenia
depth = 32 m
length = 8.27 km
coordinates = coor dms|45|49|12|N|14|14|45|E|type:cave
survey = [http://www.krizna-jama.si/VR/KriznaJama_uvod.html plan]
discovery = 1832
geology = dolomite, limestone
access = by foot and by boat
number of entrances = 1

Križna jama ("Križna Cave" or "Cave of the Cross") is a cave located in Loška dolina, Slovenia. The cave is particularly noted for its chain of twenty-two subterranean lakes of emerald green water. The cave was first documented in 1832 but the part of the cave which includes lakes and stream passages was first explored by Slovene cavers in 1926. At "Kalvarija" (the most known symbol of Križna jama) the cave splits into two branches - "Blata" to the north and "Pisani rov" to the north-east. The passage through the Blata is harder so most explorers choose to continue along Pisani rov which requires the use of small boats. Križna jama continues into Nova Križna jama.

In the direction from the entrance to the cave, Pisani rov is the left gallery of Križna jama at the confluence with Blata at Kalvarija. The access requires the use of boats. Part of the way along Pisani rov is a side gallery which is named "Matjažev rov" and contains several large columns. Continuing along Pisani rov the explorer enters the "Kristalna gora" ("Crystal Mountain"), which is the largest room in the cave. The explorer can climb the mountainous pile of collapsed rocks to a point well above the stream.

With 44 species of organisms Križna jama is the fourth largest cave ecosystem in the world by biodiversity.

External links

* [http://www.krizna-jama.si/ Krizna-jama.si] . The official webpage.
* [http://www.burger.si/Jame/KriznaJama/KriznaJamaENG.html Križna jama] . A map and a virtual panorama by Boštjan Burger.