Jama pod Babjim Zobom Cave

Descend into the underground world and discover the magical cave world.

The intimate local and mysterious cave is located under 100-metre-high rock wall, where the Jelovica plateau is divided into the valley of Sava Bohinjka above Bohinjska Bela. It has two tunnels, many stalactites and crystals, thus it is the longest and most beautiful cave of the area. The first, approx. 300-metre-long tunnel, is almost equally high and wide, all in dark grey limestone and has gravel bottom. The middle part, divided with precipices, opens through the tunnel. The bottom is like a basin, full of gravel and calcite blocks that have fallen off the walls and ceiling. The ceiling is unequally high and covered with rare and small stalactites. The west precipice has a vertical 27-metre-deep wall, while the neighbouring precipice is flat, so that we can climb to the bottom. At the bottom, the tunnel is divided into two parts. The old path runs along the precipices between the southern wall and the large pillar, the second tunnel that was discovered in 1996, is located on the other side of the precipice.

The stalactite part of the cave is its most beautiful part. Narrow galleries expand to the stalactite hall, named the hall of images, because we can see large, colourful stalactites and stalactite pillars. Due to their beauty, many stalactites were stolen when the cave was open for public.
There is a low connective tunnel, with barely man-height, located behind the hall, and there is a secondary tunnel in the ceiling. Rhomboedron-shaped calcite crystals that are 10 million years old, surprise us between layers of calcareous sinter.
Two halls follow, the first is up to 15 metres high and wide cave with a diverse bottom and ceiling, and almost entirely composed of calcite. The last hall which was artificially caved in is covered with helectites that are extremely rare in caves.
Despite the darkness and cold, the cave is home to some animals, including two species of bats, Titanethes albus, beetle, grasshopper, spider and millipede which is an endemic of the Bohinj valley.

© Anja Šmit

One of the oldest caves in Slovenia

The largest stalactite cave in the Julian Alps was formed in ice age when the water from the Bohinj glacier ran underground of the Jelovica plateau. It was discovered around 1600, when people searched for iron ore. The second cave tunnel was discovered much later, i.e. in 1996. The cave is probably quite unique in Slovenia because almost the entire interior is shaped in calcite made from fossils.

Experience

  • Decide for a guided hike and visit of the Jama pod Babjim zobom Cave.
  • Discover the tunnels and learn more about caves in general.
  • Admire stalactites and crystals in the cave that have emerged for millions of years.

Worth visiting

Attractions