Jama Poltarica (Krka tributary spring cave)
Poltarica is the first right-bank tributary of the Krka, 400 m from the Krka spring; members of the Novo mesto caving club dug into the cave in 2003 and found large halls with an underground river. Divers swam the 15 m long, 2.5 m deep inflow sump into a 100 m water hall and later found a continuation at 13 m depth that added 70 m before narrowing. Other dives explored outflow sumps 12 m and 5 m deep. The Blatni rov canyon fills with torrential water in high flow.
Facts
- Region: Slovenia – Lakes, Rivers & Caves
- Area: Dolenjska & Bela krajina (Krka, Kolpa, Kočevje)
- Depth: 0–13 m
- Level: advanced
- Current: moderate
- Type: cave
- Coordinates: 45.8862077, 14.7705439 (approximate)
- Highlights: spring cave 400 m from the Krka spring, inflow sump 15 m long, 2.5 m deep, into a 100 m water hall, continuation found at 13 m (+70 m), outflow sumps 12 m and 5 m deep, part of the water flows back into the massif, entrance gated, torrential water in high flow
- Permit: Gated entrance; exploration by Jamarski klub Novo mesto. Under the Cave Protection Act (ZVPJ) every cave, including water-filled ones, is state-owned and protected. Only persons certified for independent caving (certificate checked by the Speleological Association of Slovenia, JZS) may explore caves, and they must notify the cave's custodian, concessionaire or protected-area manager in advance (Art. 14); closed caves can be entered only for scientific/archaeological work with a permit from the ministry responsible for nature conservation (Art. 17). There is no visitor dive permit: in practice diving here happens only as a member of the caving/cave-diving team that runs the exploration.
- Issuer / contact: Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning – Nature Conservation Sector
- Phone: +38614787335
- Email: gp.mop@gov.si
- Website: https://www.gov.si/teme/podzemne-jame/
- Tips: Research-only, not available to visiting divers: the entrance is closed with grates and the cave is explored by Jamarski klub Novo mesto. Small, silty sumps and flood danger.