![Image credit: samo_wi/Flickr](https://i0.wp.com/unusualplaces.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Škocjan_Caves1.jpg?resize=640%2C427)
Image credit: samo_wi/Flickr
The Škocjan Caves, located in western Slovenia, are a Karstic caves. The name Karst comes from the name of the region, in which the caves are located – the Karst Plateau or the Classical Karst. Created by the river Reka, which runs for some 30 km until it disappears under the ground.
![Image credit:Luca Zappacosta/Flickr](https://i0.wp.com/unusualplaces.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Škocjan_Caves_Reka2.jpg?resize=500%2C333)
Image credit:Luca Zappacosta/Flickr
It reappears some 40 km to the north-west, near the Italian village of San Giovanni di Duino, under the name of Timavo, just 2 of kilometers from the Adriatic Sea. Thus, Timavo is the shortest river in Italy. The ancient Romans thought of it as the “birthplace of the Sea”. Virgil mentions it 3 times: in the Eclogues, the Georgics and the Aeneid.
Furthermore, the caves include a number of breathtaking phenomena, some of which seem almost as man-made.
![Image Credit:Jure Zvan/Flickr](https://i0.wp.com/unusualplaces.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Škocjan_Caves2.jpg?resize=960%2C639)
Image Credit:Jure Zvan/Flickr
![Image Credit:Samo_wi/Flickr](https://i0.wp.com/unusualplaces.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Škocjan_Caves3.jpg?resize=333%2C500)
Image Credit:Samo_wi/Flickr
![Image Credit:Ben Thé Man/Flickr](https://i0.wp.com/unusualplaces.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Škocjan_Caves4.jpg?resize=960%2C960)
Image Credit:Ben Thé Man/Flickr
The village of Matavun is located at the entrance of the cave, overlooking a 80-or-so meter cliff. It’s part of the UNESCO heritage.
![Image Credit:Simon Kompara/Flickr](https://i0.wp.com/unusualplaces.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Škocjan_Caves5.jpg?resize=960%2C640)
Image Credit:Simon Kompara/Flickr
Submission by Luka Lisjak. Thank you!