The first arch I came across in my neighbouring country of Slovenia to Austria was in the Mostnica gorge. To be honest I wasn’t even sure it was an arch.
Andreas and I were there to photograph the gorge itself. We have been there a couple of times scouting out the place.
This time around, down river I found what appeared to be an arch in the water. Now, not until recently had I known of its existence nor its name. The arch in question is officially called the little elephant arch.
What’s an Arch ?
Definition: A natural arch, bridge or tunnel is a void beneath still standing bedrock, usually of short extent, and allowing human passage from one end to the other, at least part of the time. The other entrance/other side is visible from each side.
A natural arch is an arch of rock formed by erosion (weathering) from the bedrock.
A natural bridge is a bridge of rock typically spanning a ravine or valley and formed by the erosion of a former cave. Source http://www.naturalarches.org
Zoomorphic pareidolias
Is that a mad looking word or what! – zoomorphic pareidolias ? Basically it’s a funky way of called faces or shapes of animals found in nature. Who would’ve thought!
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Zoomorphic_pareidolias
Slovenia has more natural arches to discover
I’ve being searching out arches in Ireland for sometime. So why not go looking for them over the border in Slovenia.
Here is a list of them, so far what I’ve found. If you know of some more please let me know in the comments below.
- Okno Ohniste (Fireplace Window) is the largest arch in Slovakia at about 66 ft high Slovakia Fireside Window
- Hole in Zelske Jama cave, River Rak, Rakov Skocjan, Littoral–Inner Carniola Statistical Region, Slovenia https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-hole-in-zelske-jama-cave-river-rak-rakov-skocjan-littoralinner-carniola-127420826.html
- Veliki Naravni Most,Skocjan http://www.naturalarches.org/gallery-Slovenia-VelikiNaravniMost.htm
- Kožbana Arch – not sure if there is one.