Postojna Things to Do

Sorry, this photo is not good (see my warning tip) but it shows an uncommon phenomenon, when a drapery is thin enough to be transparent to light. There is only on at Postojna and I missed the photo! I should have taken a tripod but let me remind that theoretically, photo is forbidden in Postojna cave!

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Photo 1 shows what is named soda straw stalactites or vermicelli stalactites. In these stalactites, water does not flow outside the concretion but inside. They are very thin and fragile, with a hollow in the middle and thus are never very long.

Photo 2 shows soda straw stalactites that have been over flown and thus growing into usual stalactites

Photo 3: does this thin stalactite has been a vermicelli stalactite in the beginning? May be.

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The first photo shows in the background a massif almost white (pure calcite) but in the foreground, there seems that there has been chocolate dripping from the ceiling, that covers the older one. Recently (= thousand years ago!) a dripping of calcite water enriched with dissolved iron has replaced the pure calcite water, giving this rust color.

The second photo shows the same phenomenon on a drapery.

Photo 3 shows a “cupboard” with mixed columns, some white, some with the rust color of iron.

On photo 4, most of the flow is white and only in some parts are there tiny drippings of rust. The shapes on the right are named mammoth teeth.

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Photo 1: when water flows on a wall that builds draperies that cover the wall. When water brings pure calcite, the drapery is dazzling white.

Photo 2 shows a series of neighboring stalactites turning into a drapery.

Photo 3 shows that when many neighboring stalactites meet, that gives a kind of frozen cataract.

Photo 4 shows another kind of figure, there are so many!

Photo 5 show two independent neighboring columns that nearly reach the ceiling though there has not been any corresponding stalactite hanging. The one in the foreground ids almost white while the second is grayish, which means that calcite is added with manganese.

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When water with dissolved calcite (also called aragonite) drips from the ceiling, some of it. Evaporates and calcite remains, giving a stalactite that hangs from the ceiling. More water falls on the ground and further evaporates. Calcite accumulates and build a stalactite that stands on the ground. When a stalactite and a stalagmite meet, that builds a column ? When more water flows, the column grows, building cauliflower shapes.

Photo 1 is one of these cauliflower columns

Photo 2 was taken closer and shows well the aspect of the surface and even water flowing.

Photo 3 shows another fat column but that looks more like a bundle of small columns

Photo 4 shows a stalagmite that has not yet met its stalactite. This one is looking like candle dripping.

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Visitors are brought by the trains in a large cave where there are five large signs that tell the language for the visit. You must gather under the language that you choose: Slovenian, Italian, English, German and French. Several trains disembark their load of visitors. Once there are about 5-600 people, each group is taken in charge by a guide and the visit begins. This is well organized as immediately, the other groups are out of sight and out of voice.

As far as 1872, a small railway was setup in the cave. Since then, it has been changed, of course. The carriages are open and made of seats for two, one behind the other. Each train can carry about a hundred. Sorry, I did not count exactly, I should have but this is my wild guess!

The train runs for 2 kilometers and bring visitors to a large room.

Departure of the first visits is at 10:00. At 9:30, visitors begin to queue in front of the entrance. Given that the temperature in the cave is around 10°C, year round, and that it is very humid, you can lease thick cloaks.
At 10:00 sharp, the door opens and the visitors are driven into a passage that allows two in front, not more. After a few meters, there were two photographers, one on the right, the other on the left, that shot each visitor. After the visit, all the photos were on display, for sale to those that wanted them.