The geographic definition of "Triestine Karst" refers to an area which stretches from the lake of Doberḍ to the river Rosandra following the Slovenian border . The origin of the word Karst or "Carso" comes from the root "karra" which the linguists say to be preindoeuropean and has the meaning of stone. And indeed, the limestone is the real essence of this area.
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The morphology: the Karst landscape around Trieste is a vast white limestone tableland worn by erosion. Most of the caves and underground riverbeds consist of calcareous rocks. One of the principal characteristic is its permeability that is the capacity to swollow and to reissue water creating an underground world with its caves hollowed out by the slow water action. If we consider the extension of the tableland and the high number of caves, caverns, potholes and underground stream channels, we can affirm that few places in the world can be compared with this zone. The stalactites and stalagmites which were formed by the dropping of waters containing calcium salts and which are trying to get their own way from the soil, contribute to create scenes of incomparable beauty in the caves. Numerous watercourses flow under the surface and feed the Karst river Timavo which submerges in the cave of San Canziano to reappear, after a long underground run, at San Giovanni (Duino). |
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The ground: the ground is mostly covered with red soil on calcareous base and with brown soil or flish or on sedimentary dolomite rocks and is indead the real Karst or Carsic soil. You can find in big quantities especially in the ditches or "dolina" (originally a Slovene word which indicates a depression of the ground probably formed by the collapse of a cave vault). |
The wind: all this area is dominated by the "Bora", which is a strong cold wind blowing from the inland and originated in the plains of Hungary (Pannonian Basin). The peculiarity of this wind is its speed which can be much higher than 120 km/h. It has no favourite season even if in winter it is more likely.
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As far as flora is concerned, we can say that the Karstic or Carsic environment is a paradise for botanists. There is a cohabitation of the continental and the Mediterranean vegetation so we can admire juniper, laurel, hornbeam, helix as well as pine, chestnut or oak tree and many particular flowers. |
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The fauna is typically continental: roebucks, badgers, wild boars, foxes, hares, squirrels and besides lots of different species of birds live together in the same territory. To be mentioned are the birds of pray and among them the peregrine falcon who has been nesting in those last few years on rocky, sheer drop walls at Sistiana. Lately the increasing interest for this area and its phenomena are concerned, brought to the constitution of a movement that aims to preserve this common good. The first step has been made by proposing to create a Natural Park of Carso.
| The population: a Mountain Community of Karst (Carso) has been established to protect its naturalistic, economic (grape - growing) and ethnical importance. More than 20,000 people live in villages on this tableland and many have Slovene origins. Their cultural life follows the tradition and they gather in many Circles operating in the zone. |
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