Category: News

GROUNDWATER, GUARDIANS OF LIFE

Today, the final conference of the project “Groundwater, Guardians of Life,” implemented by Studenac d.o.o., was held at Speleon.

The project was launched to educate and raise public awareness about the need to preserve groundwater, a vital resource for human life and ecosystems. To achieve this goal, Studenac systematically promoted discussions about the importance of groundwater conservation, informed the wider community about ways to protect these resources, and encouraged positive ecological changes in the daily lives of individuals and communities.

As part of the project, a new series of Studena water bottles was introduced. Studenac allocated a portion of the proceeds from the sale of these bottles to support the preservation of Croatia’s groundwater and drinking water.

A panel discussion titled “A DROP FOR THE FUTURE” was held, moderated by Tatjana Spajić. Panel participants included Mr. Damir Basara (OSMICA), Jasmin Sadiković (Zeleni Osijek), and Ivan Gluščević (Kolektiv).

Numerous guests from various institutions and organizations participated in the event and spoke on this topic:

• J. J. Strossmayer Institute for Water – Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mario Šiljeg
• Mayor of Rakovica Municipality – Mihovil Bićanić
• Aquatika Freshwater Aquarium Karlovac – Director Margarita Maruškić-Kulaš
• Public Institution Barać Caves – Managing Director Tihana Oštrina, responsible for managing protected natural values in the Rakovica municipality
• OSMICA – Society for Mountaineering, Exploration, and Preservation of Natural Values (including a speleology section) – Secretary Damir Basara
• Zeleni Osijek Association – President Jasmin Sadiković
• Youth Association Kolektiv – President Ivan Gluščević
• Students of the Undergraduate Program in Hunting and Nature Conservation from Karlovac University of Applied Sciences
• Studenac Representatives:
  • Tatjana Spajić (moderator)
  • Anja Škulje Makjanić
  • Ivana Nakić
  • Petra Vuka

We are particularly pleased that Speleon – the Center for Underground Heritage – was chosen as the venue for this exceptional event, which contributes to groundwater conservation and the protection of natural values.

Conference of Croatian Speleologists/

This weekend, from November 29 to December 1, the Gathering of Croatian Speleologists was held in Drežnik Grad, organized by the Speleological Society Veles and the Croatian Speleological Association.

The event marked the 70th anniversary of the Croatian Speleological Association, 15 years of the Speleological Society Veles, and 20 years since the re-opening of Barać Caves for visitors.

Approximately 200 participants attended the conference. On Saturday, 25 presentations were held, during which over 50 speakers showcased their research, technologies, and their applications in speleology. Publications were introduced, along with ways to popularize speleology through the promotion of STEM.

At exhibitor booths, participants also had the opportunity to purchase various publications, T-shirts with society logos, and other souvenirs.

In addition to lectures, the event featured entertaining activities such as the traditional speleo-obstacle course, which required participants’ agility and speed. A fun program with socializing among participants followed.

1st Speleoarchaeological Congress, Nova Kršlja, October 25-27, 2024

The Public Institution Barać Caves, in collaboration with the University of Zagreb’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, the University of Zadar’s Department of Archaeology, the Institute of Anthropology in Zagreb, the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, and the Croatian Speleological Federation, is organizing the 1st Speleoarchaeological Congress. This event will be held from October 25-27, 2024, at Speleon – the Center for Underground Heritage, located at Nova Kršlja 47, Rakovica.

The Congress was officially opened by the director of Barać Caves Public Institution, Tihana Oštrina, who emphasized that the motivation behind organizing Croatia’s first Speleoarchaeological Congress is to present the new findings and insights gained through archaeological explorations of speleological sites in Croatia and neighboring countries. She noted that the scope of archaeological research on speleological sites in Croatia has significantly expanded and intensified in recent years.

“…Over the past ten years, the Barać Caves have been systematically explored, yielding remarkably valuable finds that testify to this area’s rich history. This has empowered and motivated us to complete the project in 2023 and open Croatia’s first Center for Underground Heritage – Speleon.

Among the project’s key objectives, in addition to promoting tourism, is fostering collaborative work and experience sharing among institutions, not only within Croatia but also at an international level. We proudly highlight that by organizing such events, we are making substantial strides forward, benefiting both the institution and the local community. We are dedicated to advancing the speleological and archaeological professions and sciences.

I believe the results of our work and knowledge-sharing will have a lasting impact on the future of speleoarchaeology. I thank you for coming, and I look forward to fruitful discussions and collaborations over the coming days. May this congress inspire new ideas and projects that will enrich all of us together…” stated Director Tihana Oštrina.

The congress has gathered numerous participants and speakers from the fields of archaeology and science, including representatives from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences – Department of Archaeology; the University of Zadar – Department of Archaeology; the Institute of Anthropology in Zagreb; the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb; SK Ursus spelaeus; the Archaeological Museum of Istria; Kaštela City Museum; the University of Juraj Dobrila in Pula, Faculty of Humanities – Department of Archaeology; the University of Wyoming, Department of Anthropology; Dubrovnik Museums – Archaeological Museum; the City of Šibenik, Ozalj Heritage Museum, as well as students.

Alongside the Institution’s director, Associate Professor Dr. Nikola Vukosavljević addressed the attendees, expressing gratitude to the Institution for organizing this congress and appreciation to colleague and friend Hrvoje Cvitanović for initiating this gathering. He also voiced a hope to continue this initiative by holding an annual congress. He wished all presenters success and also spoke in English to colleagues from other countries.

In addition to presentations, the program includes a panel discussion and poster presentations. A Book of Abstracts has also been published for the congress, provided to each participant.

Congress participants are invited to visit and tour the Upper Barać Cave and the Speleon – Center for Underground Heritage, with an optional excursion to Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Photos and the event program are provided below.

Photo credits: Hrvoje Cvitanović, Marina Magdić, Irena Tomičić

Promotional Autumn Week – Visit one of the most famous tourist caves in Croatia, located near Plitvice Lakes National Park!

This autumn, from October 26th to November 3rd, visit Barać Caves and Speleon – the Center for Underground Heritage with promotional ticket prices!

Individual ticket prices for the Upper Barać Cave and the Speleon Visitor Center (for each location) will be:

Adults – €9.00

Children (ages 3-18) – €6.50

Special visitor groups – €8.00

No prior notice is needed for groups of fewer than 15 people. We are open every day, including weekends and holidays.

Working hours of the Upper Barać Cave: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Working hours of the Speleon Visitor Center: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Along with the mysterious underground world, get to know the inhabitants of Speleon – fossil remains of Ice Age animals found in the Upper Barać Cave. Their hyper-realistic replicas will take you back tens of thousands of years to a time when lions, hyenas, woolly rhinos, and other large beasts roamed our area!

The 5th Edition of the Barać Forest Trail – A Spectacular Natural Adventure in the Barać Caves!

This Saturday, in the stunning surroundings of the Barać Caves, we witnessed yet another spectacular edition of the Barać Forest Trail. Around 200 brave runners, their loyal supporters, recreational enthusiasts, and other visitors came to enjoy this unique natural event. This was already the fifth edition of the Barać Forest Trail, and also the final round of Croatia’s most popular trail league – the Kontinenttrail League.

The race attracted many participants. The ZERCA trail gathered the largest number of runners to date. More experienced runners opted for the ŠIŠMIŠ route, while the bravest chose the longest route, now well-known under the name BUNIKA.

“The Zerca trail was run on a marked pedestrian path of 7.5 km with a 173-meter elevation gain, which equals one lap. The second group of runners opted for the Šišmiš trail of 15 km with a 346-meter elevation gain, while the bravest ran a full 22.5 km, conquering an elevation gain of 528 meters. The course was entirely trail (off-road) – 100% nature,” said Leopold Špehar, President of the Plitvice Athletic Club and co-organizer of the race.

All runners received rich starting packages, while visitors, supporters, families, and friends enjoyed additional amenities at our picnic area. The fastest competitors won generous prizes from our sponsors. Of course, the youngest participants were not forgotten, with boys and girls competing in different age categories, and the top three in each category were awarded medals and valuable gifts.

In the gallery, you can find pictures showing how incredible this weekend in the Barać Caves was, and what beautiful trails lie hidden in the forests of this Significant Landscape. Below this report, we present the runners’ rankings.

The director of the Public Institution Barać Caves, as a co-organizer of the race, stated: “Runners are increasingly recognizing this race as an event that must be included in their annual race calendar. This race is important for the tourist and economic contribution to the municipality of Rakovica, which supported this event, along with Karlovac County and the Plitvice Valleys Tourist Board.”

Among other sponsors, we would like to thank Natural Wealth, Select Box, Cetina Water, Dogma, Veronika Desinić Dairy, Nikola Tesla Experience Center Karlovac, Kino Edison, Pazin Cave – Speleo Adventure, Una Kayak Safari, Cave Park Grabovača, Diva Confectionery, OPG TeaSheena, and others.

We thank everyone for their support and commit to making the race better and better each year, serving to promote the municipality of Rakovica, Karlovac County, and the Public Institution Barać Caves.”

If you missed this year’s race, the organizers invite you to join next year and be part of this magical natural adventure.

Race Results

BUNIKA M- 1. Stjepan Žanić / 2. Antun Patrčević / 3. Tonći Šegarić

BUNIKA F – 1. Maja Krčelić / 2. Andreja Ložnjak /3. Antonija Janči

ŠIŠMIŠ M – 1. Dragan Narančić/ 2. Leonardo Pavina / 3. Mateo Ledinski

ŠIŠMIŠ F – 1. Gabrijela Šalković/2. Matea Maslač /3. Mirjana Kolar

ZERCA M – 1. Amir Muminovic /2. Goran Narančić / 3. Zoran Narančić

ZERCA F – 1. Lara Nimac /2. Dora Sušak / 3. Andreja Lacković

Photo: Patricia Rubčić, Kristina Štefanac, Vedran Božičević

 

Workshop “Carbon Dioxide (CO2) – Importance in (Micro)climatic Processes of Caves and How to Monitor It” (Perušić, October 4, 2024)/

“Open Days of EU Projects”

The Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds is once again organizing the “Open Days of EU Projects,” which will take place from October 5 to 20, 2024, across the Republic of Croatia.

The public institution Barać Caves will participate in the “Open Days of EU Projects” with a free tour of Speleon – Centre of subterranean heritage, on Thursday, October 10, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

The aim of this event is to bring EU-funded projects closer to the general public, showcasing how they have contributed to the development of local communities. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about projects in various sectors such as energy, research and development, culture, education, entrepreneurship, transportation, environmental protection, rural development, social inclusion, tourism, health, and many others.

During the “Open Days,” you can visit numerous EU fund beneficiaries across Croatia and discover how they have successfully implemented projects that improve our daily lives.

For more information, visit the official website https://strukturnifondovi.hr/en/activities/open-days/ and follow social media pages https://web.facebook.com/eu.fondovi.hrvatska?_rdc=1&_rdr

#100%eufondovi

CULTURAL HERITAGE – RESTORATION OF FINDS

Barać Caves are a well-known archaeological site, pointed out by, among others, naturalists Hirtz, Kišpatić, and Malez. One of the activities carried out by the Public Institution is the preservation of the area’s cultural values and heritage.

Through years of research and systematic collection, a highly valuable and rich archaeological and paleontological collection has been formed, which is stored in the depot of the Speleon Visitor Center, but also displayed as part of its permanent exhibition. Each find holds exceptional value and reveals new details from the past.

How do you like the medieval thimble we found? The thimble was used for hand sewing, particularly because it prevents pricking the finger. Finding such an item in the cave suggests that people who stayed inside for an extended period of time had lost it.

In the gallery below, you can view photos of some of the finds before and after the restoration process.

Discover the Beauty of Lika Destinations with a voucher booklet!

From June 20 to October 31, 2024, take advantage of a unique opportunity to explore ten of the most beautiful locations in the Lika region with a single joint ticket – voucher booklet. The price for the joint ticket is 70.00 € for adults, 42.50 € for children aged 7-18, and free admission for children under 7.

Each year, Plitvice Lakes National Park brings together diverse attractions to offer visitors the chance to explore the natural beauty and cultural landmarks of Lika with an affordable and accessible ticket. This year’s joint ticket includes visits to:

• Plitvice Lakes National Park – the oldest and most beautiful national park in Croatia, known for its turquoise lakes and stunning waterfalls, part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
• Northern Velebit National Park
• Paklenica National Park
• Velebit Nature Park – Zavratnica Bay
• Velebit Nature Park – Cerovačke špilje (caves)
• Barać Caves
• Barać Caves – SPELEON Centre of subterranean heritage
• Grabovača Cave Park
• Nikola Tesla Memorial Center
• Croatian Center for Indigenous Species of Fish and Crayfish of Karst Waters

Purchase your voucher with tickets at the entrances of Plitvice Lakes National Park.

The joint ticket not only provides economical access to these destinations but also promotes sustainable tourism and nature conservation, offering visitors an unforgettable experience

Don’t miss the chance to discover the beauty of Lika destinations at an exceptionally affordable price!

Foto: NPPJ