Slivnica (hill)
Encyclopedia
Slivnica is a hill in the Dinaric Alps
in Slovenia
, southeast of Cerknica
on the edge of the plain defined by Lake Cerknica
. Its southern and western slopes are covered in deciduous and pine forests, which also obstruct the view from the highest peak, Velika Slivnica ('Big Slivnica').
A karst cave
below the summit of Slivnica, known as the Witches' Cave was described by Valvasor
in his The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola
(1689) as a hole where storms are made. Warm air rises from the cave in the cold winter months and condenses to form mist
, a phenomenon that contributed to the creation of the local legend about the Slivnica witches
, traditionally blamed for all misfortune by local farmers from hail storms
to various ailments
.
Dinaric Alps
The Dinaric Alps or Dinarides form a mountain chain in Southern Europe, spanning areas of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro....
in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
, southeast of Cerknica
Cerknica
Cerknica is a town and municipality in the Kras region of southwestern Slovenia, with a population of 10,284 . It belongs to the traditional region of Inner Carniola....
on the edge of the plain defined by Lake Cerknica
Lake Cerknica
Lake Cerknica is an intermittent lake near Cerknica in Inner Carniola, a region of Slovenia. When full, it is the largest lake in the country. It lies in the southern part of the Cerknica Polje...
. Its southern and western slopes are covered in deciduous and pine forests, which also obstruct the view from the highest peak, Velika Slivnica ('Big Slivnica').
A karst cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
below the summit of Slivnica, known as the Witches' Cave was described by Valvasor
Janez Vajkard Valvasor
Johann Weichard Freiherr von Valvasor or simply Valvasor was a Slovenian nobleman, scientist and polymath, and a fellow of the Royal Society in London.-Biography:...
in his The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola
The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola
The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola is Johann Weikhard von Valvasor's most important work on history and natural history of his homeland Carniola, a central part of the present-day Slovenia and Istria in Croatia....
(1689) as a hole where storms are made. Warm air rises from the cave in the cold winter months and condenses to form mist
Mist
Mist is a phenomenon of small droplets suspended in air. It can occur as part of natural weather or volcanic activity, and is common in cold air above warmer water, in exhaled air in the cold, and in a steam room of a sauna. It can also be created artificially with aerosol canisters if the...
, a phenomenon that contributed to the creation of the local legend about the Slivnica witches
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
, traditionally blamed for all misfortune by local farmers from hail storms
Hail
Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is referred to as a hail stone. Hail stones on Earth consist mostly of water ice and measure between and in diameter, with the larger stones coming from severe thunderstorms...
to various ailments
Illness
Illness is a state of poor health. Illness is sometimes considered another word for disease. Others maintain that fine distinctions exist...
.