The Julian Alps ( sl, Julijske Alpe, it, Alpi Giulie, , ) are a

mountain range A mountain range or hill range is a series of mountains or hills arranged in a line and connected by high ground. A mountain system or mountain belt is a group of mountain ranges with similarity in form, structure, and alignment that have ari ...

of the Southern Limestone Alps that stretch from northeastern

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

Slovenia Slovenia ( ; sl, Slovenija ), officially the Republic of Slovenia (Slovene: , abbr.: ''RS''), is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the southeast, and ...

, where they rise to 2,864 m at Mount Triglav, the highest peak in

. A large part of the Julian Alps is included in Triglav National Park. The second highest peak of the range, the 2,755 m high

Jôf di Montasio The Jôf di Montasio (Italian, fur, Jôf dal Montâs, sl, Montaž, german: Montasch) is located in the Province of Udine, in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northeastern Italy. With its elevation of , it is the second highest mountain of ...

, lies in

. The Julian Alps cover an estimated 4,400 km² (of which 1,542 km² lies in Italy). They are located between the

Sava The Sava (; , ; sr-cyr, Сава, hu, Száva) is a river in Central and Southeast Europe, a right-bank and the longest tributary of the Danube. It flows through Slovenia, Croatia and along its border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and finally t ...

Valley and

Canale Valley Canale may refer to: Places ;Italy * Canale, Piedmont, a ''comune'' in the Province of Cuneo * Canale, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, a ''frazione'' in the Province of Trento * Canale d'Agordo, a ''comune'' in the Province of Belluno, Veneto * C ...

. They are divided into the Eastern and Western Julian Alps.

Name

The Julian Alps were known in antiquity as ''Alpe Iulia'', and also attested as ''Alpes Juliana'' AD 670, ''Alpis Julia'' 734, and ''Alpes Iulias'' in 1090. Like the

municipium In ancient Rome, the Latin term (pl. ) referred to a town or city. Etymologically, the was a social contract among ("duty holders"), or citizens of the town. The duties () were a communal obligation assumed by the in exchange for the priv ...

of ''Forum Julii'' (now Cividale del Friuli) at the foot of the mountains, the range was named after

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, an ...

of the

Julian clan The gens Julia (''gēns Iūlia'', ) was one of the most prominent patrician families in ancient Rome. Members of the gens attained the highest dignities of the state in the earliest times of the Republic. The first of the family to obtain the ...

, perhaps due to a road built by Julius Caesar and completed by

Augustus Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pr ...

Eastern Julian Alps

There are many peaks in the Eastern Julian Alps over 2,000 m high, and they are mainly parts of ridges. The most prominent peaks are visible by their height and size. There are high plateaus on the eastern border, such as Pokljuka, Mežakla, and Jelovica. The main peaks by height are the following: * Triglav – the highest mountain and on the coat of arms of Slovenia *

Škrlatica Škrlatica, historically also known as Suhi plaz ("Dry Avalanche"), is a mountain in the Slovenian Julian Alps. With its summit at 2,740m above sea level, it is the second highest peak in Slovenia (after Triglav at 2,864m) and the third highest i ...

* Mangart * Jalovec * Razor * Kanjavec * Prisojnik * Rjavina * Prestreljenik * Špik * Tosc *

Krn Krn (; ) is a mountain of the southwestern Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia. It is the highest mountain of the Krn Mountains. The mountain is located about from the Adriatic Sea. The Soča River flows west of the peak, and the smaller Le ...

Western Julian Alps

The Western Julian Alps cover a much smaller area, and are located mainly in

. Only the Kanin group lies in part in Slovenia. The main peaks by height are: *

() * Jôf Fuart () * High Mount Kanin ()

Passes

Important passes of the Julian Alps are: *The Vršič Pass, 1,611 m (5,826 feet), links the

and Soča valleys. It is the highest mountain road pass in

. *The Predil Pass (links Villach via Tarvisio and Bovec to

Gorizia Gorizia (; sl, Gorica , colloquially 'old Gorizia' to distinguish it from Nova Gorica; fur, label= Standard Friulian, Gurize, fur, label= Southeastern Friulian, Guriza; vec, label= Bisiacco, Gorisia; german: Görz ; obsolete English ''Gori ...

), paved road 1,156 m (3,792 feet) *The Pontebba Pass (links Villach via Tarvisio and Pontebba to Udine), railway, paved road, 797 m (2,615 feet)

Gallery

File:View from Mangart MC.jpg, View from Mangart toward east (from left to right:

Ponca The Ponca ( Páⁿka iyé: Páⁿka or Ppáⁿkka pronounced ) are a Midwestern Native American tribe of the Dhegihan branch of the Siouan language group. There are two federally recognized Ponca tribes: the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and the ...

, Špik, Mojstrovka,

, Razor, Prisojnik,

Travnik Travnik is a town and a municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the administrative center of Central Bosnia Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated in central Bosnia and Herzegovina, west of Sarajevo. As of 2 ...

, Triglav, Kanjavec, Jalovec, Lepo Špičje File:Julian Alps from Vrsic Pass (3).jpg, The Julian Alps seen from the Vršič Pass File:Julian Alps from the N.jpg, The Julian Alps from the north File:Julijske Alpe z Vršiča.jpg, The Julian Alps, from the Vršič Pass File:Leontopodium alpinum.jpg, Edelweiss, Julian Alps,

File:Julian Alps with Prisojnik and Razor.jpg, The Julian Alps with Prisojnik and Razor File:Krnica.jpg, The Krnica Valley near Kranjska Gora File:Mangart 16.jpg, Mount Mangart File:Modeon del Montasio 2.jpg, Modeon del Montasio seen from Cima di Terrarossa

References

External links

Julian Alps on Hiking Trail

Julian Alps in Slovenia (All information about it)
{{Authority control Mountain ranges of the Alps Mountain ranges of Italy Mountain ranges of Slovenia * * Southern Limestone Alps Landforms of Upper Carniola Biosphere reserves of Slovenia Natura 2000 in Slovenia