Zelške Caves

14 March 2021 CavesNatureRivers

Matej Blatnik took us to see one of the lovelier and easier caves nearby—Zelške Caves. We entered beneath the Small Natural Bridge in Rakov Škocjan. Outside, we inflated a small boat and paddled in.

Zelške Caves are a water cave system carrying water from Jamski Zaliv at Lake Cerknica, which first flows through the cave system of Velike Karlovice, which we also visited a few days later. The water flowing out of Zelške Caves becomes the River Rak and forms part of the Ljubljanica river basin.

Exploration of Zelške Caves began in 1957; until then they were also known by other names (Zadnje Jame, Grotte del principe Ugo, Grotte Prinz Windischgreatz). This is a cave with a permanent spring, and the system has been explored for 7,338 metres in length and 160 metres in depth. The cave is open with controlled access.

The cave is easy and spacious. Križna Cave, between Cerknica and Lož Poljes, is our best-known tourist cave approached by boat, but Zelške Caves are no less wonderful.

We did, however, have to carry the boat to the next lake three times.

Cavers inflate a yellow dinghy beside the stream beneath the rock arches at the entrance to Zelške jame.

Two explorers paddle a small boat across reflective cave water, silhouetted in a warmly lit Zelške Cave chamber.

A helmeted caver sits in a bright yellow inflatable boat on dark water beneath a rugged cave ceiling.

Cavers pause with a yellow dinghy and paddles in the dark water of Zelške jame.

Two helmeted explorers paddle a yellow inflatable boat across black reflective water inside Zelške Caves.

Yellow inflatable boat crosses the still water of a spacious Zelške Caves chamber, surrounded by stalactites and reflected lights.

A person paddles a yellow inflatable boat through a tall, warmly lit chamber of Zelške jame.

Two cavers stand beside a massive stalagmite column and richly textured flowstone inside Zelške Caves.

A caver paddles a yellow inflatable boat across the clear pool of Zelške Caves beneath a dense ceiling of stalactites.

Matej Blatnik also took some wonderful photographs featuring Ana and me.

A caver carries a yellow inflatable boat into the water beneath the broad natural arch at Zelške jame.

Tiny cavers stand beside a massive central flowstone column in the immense chamber of Zelške jame.

Two small boats carrying cave explorers float beneath a low sculpted limestone ceiling in Zelške Caves.

Two cavers sit in a small yellow boat on green-lit water beneath the high sculpted walls of Zelške Caves.

A tiny caver stands on a rocky ledge above green water in a vast orange-lit chamber of Zelške jame.