Cartographica Volume 38 / Numbers 1&2 / Spring/summer 2001 Mountain Cartography in Slovenia

Slovenia has a hilly character, and a high percentage of the population participates in mountaineering as an outdoor sport. Mountaineering enthusiasts produced the first mountain maps. It wasn’t until 1969, however, that official mountain maps were published under the auspices of the National Mountaineering Association of Slovenia. The official mountain maps were initially in high demand because topographic maps produced by the military were generally unavailable throughout Slovenia – a situation that has completely changed since then. Today, the use of mountain maps is in decline because of competition from other high-quality topographic maps that are more readily available. The future viability of Slovenian mountain mapping as a separate program depends on the implementation of new technology and the development of new products that are relevant to mountaineers. Introduction lovenia lies at a juncture of four great geographical units: the Alps, the Dinaric Mountains, the Pannonian Plain, and the Adriatic Sea. Four-fifths of Slovenia consists of hilly and mountainous land. The average height above sea level is 557 metres, with slopes averaging 13 degrees (Perko and Orozen Adamic, 1998). The highest peak in Slovenia, Triglav (Figure 1), in the Julian Alps in the northwest part of the country, reaches 2864 metres above sea level. The Alps and their foothills cover most of northern Slovenia, while the southern half of the country, including the Adriatic coast, is dominated by the Dinaric Mountains. Limited flat areas are found only in the easternmost parts of the country. Given the mountainous topography, it is only natural that the prehistoric inhabitants of Slovenia followed a mountain-centric way of life. Archaeological evidence found in caves and overhangs at sites above 1000 metres above sea level indicates that people lived in the Slovenian mountains S during the Ice Age, more than 30,000 years ago. Since that early time, hunters, miners, and herdsmen also frequented the mountains, and the mountain passes served as important traffic corridors during the Roman Empire. Facilitated by improved transportation, mountaineering as a sport developed in Slovenia during the second half of the eighteenth century, roughly coinciding with the development of mountaineering in other Alpine areas. Among the first people to undertake ascents were botanists, geologists, and other scientists. The first ascent of Triglav was documented in 1778. In the nineteenth century, mountaineering became increasingly popular, resulting in the founding of the National Mountaineering Association in 1893. Membership in the Association now stands at approximately 75,000 members. Additionally, each summer an estimated one million Slovenians – incredibly, half the national population – visit our mountains. Informal tradition holds that each “proper” Slovenian should at least once in a lifetime stand on top of Triglav. A negative consequence of burgeoning mountain visitation is the destruction of delicate high-mountain ecosystems, particularly during the vulnerable summer season. Dr Dusan Petrovic, Geodetic Institute of Slovenia, Jamova 2, SLO1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Tel: +386 1 200 29 40. Email: dusan. [email protected] Figure 1. View from the Rjavina toward Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak (2864 m).