AUSTRIA SLOVENIA
Karavanke/ Karawanken UNESCO Global Geopark
Geopark Karavanke is a crossborder geopark connected and divided by the majestic mountain range, The Karawanks. The area is formed by nine municipalities from Austria and five from Slovenia. Its beautiful forests, mountain meadows, and cliffs are habitats of some rare, endangered plant and animal species. Travelling through the region you can stumble upon castles, chapels, crosses, and wayside shrines (possibly some fairies from the local folktales as well), but the area is also marked by a centuries-old mining tradition.
The Geopark was established in 2011 through a bottom-up process involving all relevant local and regional actors from landowners and community groups to tourism providers. The Geopark hopes to empower local communities and give them the opportunity to develop cohesive partnerships. Since this place is among the most sparsely populated areas in the region, the Geopark also hopes to give local people a sense of pride in their region and strengthen their identification with the area by raising awareness about the geological heritage connected to its history and society.
