PROSTORSKE FOTOGRAFIJE 360° SURROUND PHOTOGRAPHY (2008, format Flash swf)
Pekel Cave is located in a 600‑metre‑long blind valley on the southern edge of the Ponikovski kras, about four kilometres north of Šempeter in the Savinja Valley. The entrance lies at the end of the valley, where the surface landscape transitions into an underground system shaped by the water of the Ponikvica stream. Over long periods, this water widened cracks in the limestone and formed the cave passages that today make up the main accessible part of the cave. In the upper section, Ponikvica enters the cave as a waterfall approximately four metres high, a characteristic geomorphological feature and one of the cave’s most recognisable elements. The water leaves the cave as the Peklenščica stream, which continues its course on the surface.
The cave is developed on two levels, a structure typical of karst caves where watercourses gradually deepen and create multi‑level systems. The upper level is dry or without a permanent water flow, while the lower level follows the active course of the Ponikvica. The tourist path leads through both levels, with the exit arranged through an artificial tunnel that enables a circular route and easier access for visitors. This arrangement was introduced for safety reasons and to preserve the natural cave formations.
Pekel Cave was known to visitors as early as the late 19th century, indicating early interest in karst features in this part of Slovenia. However, a fully arranged tourist route was established only in the 1970s, when the cave was reopened to the public. At that time, basic infrastructure such as pathways, steps and lighting was installed. Since then, the cave has been a stable part of the local tourist offer and is considered one of the notable natural features of the Ponikovski kras.
Inside the cave, typical karst formations appear, including erosion channels, speleothems and sediment deposits that reflect past hydrological conditions. Due to the active water flow in the lower level, some features continue to change, showing that the cave remains a dynamic geomorphological system. The cave’s microclimate is stable, with constant temperature and high humidity, which is characteristic of karst caves in this region.
Pekel Cave is therefore an example of karst underground that combines geomorphological, hydrological and historical characteristics of the Ponikovski kras. Its location, two‑level structure, the flow of the Ponikvica stream and its early recognition as a tourist site place it among the important natural features of the Savinja Valley.