Izvir Krupe

Izvir Reke Krupe

Useful Information

Location:	Izvir Krupa, 8333 Semič. A2 Ljubljana-Zagreb highway exit Novo mesto, 105 towards Metlika or Črnomlje, in Jugor turn right towards Semič, in Štrekljevec straight ahead. Krupa village, parking at the northern city limits, bus station, Krupa 2. 250 m/5 minutes walk to the spring. (45.6349253, 15.2166396)
Open:	no restrictions. [2023]
Fee:	free. [2023]
Classification:	Karst spring
Light:	n/a
Dimension:	T=10° C, Ymin=1,000 l/s.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	yes
Bibliography:
Address:	TIC Semič, Štefanov trg 7, SI-8333 Semič, Tel: +386-40-625-148, Tel: +386-7-35-65-200. E-mail: Municipality of Semič, Štefanov trg 9, 8333 Semič, Tel: +386-7-35-65-360. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1970	shells of Congeria jalzici found in the spring.
1983	use as drinking water ends.
1989	stone dam at the spring reconstructed.
1997	spring and Krupe river declared a natural monument.

Description

Izvir Reke Krupe (Source of the Krupa River) is a karst spring close to the village Krupa. It is one of the most popular locations in the Bela Krajina region. It is located in the center of the northern part of the Belokrajna plain. The catchment area of the spring was determined by dye tracing experiments. It is the Dinaric ridges of the Kočevski Rog plateau, Radoha and Gorjanci. The Krupa River is a 2.5 km long tributary the Lahinja River. The drop from the source to the confluence is only 6 m, nevertheless it once powered four mills and two sawmills. The water is first dammed right at the spring, but the dam was destroyed and was reconstructed in 1989.

At the foot of a 50 m long and 30 m high limestone cliff, showing the typical bedding and tectonic cracks, is a resurgence where the deep blue, limestone rich water emerges. The spring emerges form a 7 m deep pool and the cave behind, which was called Izvir jamske školjke. The cave was explored by cave divers for about 50 m. The animals in the spring were examined in 1970. The cave shell Jalžić’s shell Congeria jalzici was found, which is the only appearance in Slovenia. Other animals in the spring are endemic species of cave snails and the olm (Proteus anguinus).

The site is well developed with trails and educational signs in Slovenian and English. It is also the main feature of the Kraška učna pot od Lebice do Krupe (Lebica–Krupa Karst nature trail). One of the stops is the small cave Judovska Hiša (Jewish House), where Paleolithic remains were found in an excavation. Archaeological excavations in 1960, 1985 and 1987 revealed that the cave was occasionally inhabited from in the Old Stone Age. Bone remains found in the cave belong to alpine marmot, wild boar, fox, otter, deer, goat and sheep, as well as to dogs and birds. It is located 1.4 km from the spring on the left side of the Krupe river. The cave is a single chamber with a flat floor, a huge portal, and almost no speleothems. Another important excavation is the prehistoric settlement of Moverna vas.

The spring was used for drinking water until 1983. The increased content of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the water and sediment led to the cessation of utilization. Remedial measures were carried out, and the pollution was reduced. Finally, the whole river was declared a natural monument in 1997. The pollution of the environment with PCBs has decreased significantly, and so the air above the spring is 5 to 10 times less polluted than it was ten years ago, and the air pollution in the municipality is 100 times less than before. Recent hydrogeological studies indicate a possible use of the deeper underground karst water in the Krupa hinterland.