European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 20, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Slovenia a group of sightseers pauses for a close up look at some of the formations. Head Down Cavern to Marvel at country s top attraction  Northern Italy Bureau can any continually cold and Damp place costing $13 to enter be Worth a visit most definitely providing that the place is the Postogna caves in Southern Slovenia. As Many As 10,000 visitors daily take the 90-minute tour of the caves. It is claimed that 25 million visitors have toured the caves since they first opened in 1819. Nothing can prepare the visitor for the dramatic size and sheer Beauty of the 4 million year old caves. Awesome and breathtaking Are probably the Only words to do them Justice and it is easy to see Why they Are Slovenia s chief tourist attraction. Carved out of Limestone by the Pivka River the caves were known to area residents As far Back As the 13th Century according to Graffiti scrawled on the Cave Walls. A the Early Days of organized Tours of the caves visitors Rode through aboard tiny rail cars hand pushed by guides. These Days visitors Board a narrow gauge electric railway for a two mile ride into the heart of the caverns among Europe s largest and most spectacular. Passengers instinctively Duck and wisely keep their arms Well inside the open air carriages As the Little train brushes past stalactites and stalagmites and squeezes under Nasty overhangs. The first 200 Yards of the caves Are blackened and scorched by fire. During the Axis occupation in world War ii the germans used this seemingly Bombproof part of the caverns to store enormous reserves of gasoline and Oil. But according to our guide the partisans used an Entrance unknown to the enemy to enter the caverns place a time bomb and blow up 10,000 tons of fuel. Electrification came to the Postogna caves in 1883 and that was Well before the rest of what was once Yugoslavia saw the Light. Fleeting glimpses of beautifully illuminated scenes Are caught from the train but these Are Mere teasers for what is to come. After disembarking at the station passengers line up under signs German English italian slovenian Etc. Indicating the various languages in which Tours Are conducted. The walking part of the tour follows a figure eight circuit for about two Miles. It starts off in a Cavern of staggering size with a dome soaring 160 feet within this unworldly area known As the old Cave Are Postogna s highest stalagmites towering up to More than 50 feet. While the stalagmites Are solid their opposite numbers the stalactites Are hollow and can be thumped to make them resound musically like monster xylophone bars. The constant dripping of water has built up a succession of extraordinary Rock formations of rare Beauty and strange color. Some of the formations appear to resemble parrots a rooster Buddha and a Madonna and child. Some Chambers Are filled with translucent curtains and feathery fans others with columns and pillars. The great ballroom has glittering clusters looking remarkably like giant chandeliers. Although Postogna has 14 Miles of explored stripes Magazine january 20, 1994