The Julian Alps (, , , , ) 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 aris ...

of the

Southern Limestone Alps The Southern Limestone Alps (, ), also called the Southern Calcareous Alps, are the mountain range, ranges of the Eastern Alps south of the Central Eastern Alps mainly located in northern Italy and the adjacent lands of Austria and Slovenia. The ...

that stretches from northeastern

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

Slovenia Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and a short (46.6 km) coastline within the Adriati ...

, where they rise to 2,864 m at Mount

Triglav Triglav (; ; ), with an elevation of , is the highest mountain in Slovenia and the highest peak of the Julian Alps. The mountain is the pre-eminent symbol of the Slovene nation, appearing on the Coat of arms of Slovenia, coat of arms and Flag ...

, the highest peak in

. A large part of the Julian Alps is included in

Triglav National Park Triglav National Park (TNP; ) is the only national park in Slovenia. It was established in its modern form in 1981 and is located in the northwestern part of the country, respectively the southeastern part of the Alps, Alpine massif. Mount Trigla ...

. The second highest peak of the range, the 2,755 m high Jôf di Montasio, 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, is a river in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, a right-bank and the longest tributary of the Danube. From its source in Slovenia it flows through Croatia and along its border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and finally reac ...

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

Name

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

municipium In ancient Rome, the Latin term (: ) 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 privileges ...

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

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 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 Caesar's civil wa ...

of the gens Julia, perhaps due to a road built by Julius Caesar and completed by

Augustus Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian (), was the founder of the Roman Empire, who reigned as the first Roman emperor from 27 BC until his death in A ...

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 The Pokljuka Plateau () is a forested karst plateau at an elevation of around , located in the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia. The plateau is known for its forests, pasture, mountain pastures (Javornik, Lipanca, Uskovnica, Zajamniki, etc ...

, Mežakla, and Jelovica. The main peaks by height are the following: *

– the highest mountain and on the

coat of arms of Slovenia The coat of arms of Slovenia is an emblem that consists of a red bordered blue shield on which there is a stylised white Triglav, Mount Triglav, under which there are two wavy lines representing the sea and the rivers of the country. Above Mount ...

* Škrlatica *

Mangart Mangart or Mangrt is a mountain in the Julian Alps, located on the border between Italy and Slovenia. With an elevation of , it is the List of mountains in Slovenia, fourth-highest peak in Slovenia, after Triglav, Škrlatica and Mali Triglav. It ...

* Jalovec *

Razor A razor is a bladed tool primarily used in the removal of body hair through the act of shaving. Kinds of razors include straight razors, safety razors, disposable razors, and electric razors. While the razor has been in existence since be ...

* Kanjavec * Prisojnik * Rjavina * Prestreljenik *

Špik Špik is a mountain in Slovenia, the fourteenth-highest peak in the Julian Alps The Julian Alps (, , , , ) are a mountain range of the Southern Limestone Alps that stretches from northeastern Italy to Slovenia, where they rise to 2,864 m at ...

* Tosc * Krn

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 di Montasio () * Jôf Fuart () * High Mount Kanin () * Jôf di Miezegnot ()

Passes

Important passes of the Julian Alps are: *The

Vršič Pass The Vršič Pass (; , , ) is a high mountain pass across the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia. It is the highest pass in Slovenia, with an elevation of , as well as the highest in the Eastern Julian Alps. It connects Upper Carniola with the ...

, 1,611 m (5,826 feet), links the

and

Soča Soča (, in Slovene) or Isonzo (, in Italian; other names: ; ; or ') is a long river that flows through western Slovenia () and northeastern Italy (). An Alpine river in character, its source lies in the Trenta Valley in the Julian Alps ...

valleys. It is the highest mountain road pass in

. *The

Predil Pass The Predil Pass or Predel Pass (; , ) (el. 1156 m) is a high mountain pass on the border between Italy and Slovenia. Geography The pass is located in the Julian Alps, between the peaks of Mount Mangart to the north and Mount Kanin (mount ...

(links

Villach Villach (; ; ; ) is the seventh-largest city in Austria and the second-largest in the federal state of Carinthia. It is an important traffic junction for southern Austria and the whole Alpe-Adria region. , the population is 61,887. Together wit ...

via Tarvisio and Bovec to

Gorizia Gorizia (; ; , ; ; ) is a town and (municipality) in northeastern Italy, in the autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It is located at the foot of the Julian Alps, bordering Slovenia. It is the capital of the Province of Gorizia, Region ...

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

Udine Udine ( ; ; ; ; ) is a city and (municipality) in northeastern Italy, in the middle of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, between the Adriatic Sea and the Carnic Alps. It is the capital of the Province of Udine, Regional decentralization entity ...

), railway, paved road, 797 m (2,615 feet)

References

Bibliography

External links

Julian Alps on Hiking TrailJulian Alps on kamdoalp.cz - Hikes description, prominent peaks

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