Study visit to the cross-border geopark Karavanke-Karawanken within the GeoKarst project

The last day in September and the first in October were dedicated to getting to know the Karavanke-Karawanken Cross-Border Geopark by representatives of partners, associate partners and professional associates. During the study visit we learned about many good practices of establishing and operating a cross-border geopark, which will be useful for the successful and efficient implementation of GeoKarst project activities, co-financed by the Interreg VA Italy-Slovenia Cooperation Program from the European Regional Development Fund, as well as for the further management of the cross-border geopark in the area of the Classical Karst.

Upon arrival in Carinthia, in Mežica, we were received by Mrs. Suzana Fajmut Štrucl, director of Podzemlje Pece d.o.o. and one of the main actors in the establishment of the cross-border geopark, and Mr. Blaž Šaloven, Director of the Municipality of Mežica. The lunch was followed by a presentation of the establishment and operation of the cross-border geopark, a tour of the lead and zinc mine by train and a tour of the info center and museum. Then we visited Črna na Koroškem, where the mayor, Mrs. Romana Lesjak heartily and proudly presented her municipality. We walked through the town above which at an altitude of ca. 200 m the longest steel cable (zipline) in Slovenia (Olimpline) can be seen.

The next day we went to Austria, to Železna Kapla, to visit the "World of Geology" info center, where the representative of the geopark told us many other interesting and useful things. The visit to the Obir Stalactite Caves was followed by the return to Slovenia, to Ravne na Koroškem, where after lunch we ended the study visit program with a visit to the Provincial Museum, where a museum representative presented their cooperation within the Cross-border Karavanke-Karawanken Geopark.