Žumberak/Gorjanci

Žumberak (in Croatian) or Gorjanci (in Slovenian) is a range of mountains or hills between Croatia and Slovenia. The highest peak is Sveta Gera on the border between Croatia and Slovenia, being convert|1178|m|abbr=on tall. [ [http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=257002 SummitPost - Trdinov vrh (map) -- Photos, Diagrams & Topos] ]

On the Slovenian side near the peak, there is a 90 meter high telecommunication tower. [ [http://www.geopedia.si/#b4_x525065_y68490.5_s18 Geopedia] ]

In 1999, a nature park ("Park prirode") Žumberak - Samoborsko gorje was founded on the Croatian side.

Population (Žumberak)

The isolated region on Croatian side has always had a low population. The population of about 3,000 people consists mainly of the elderly. The region is also the intersection of all three Croatian dialects. The reason for this is the immigration of Uskoks in the 17th century from Senj, which brought a large population of Štokavian speakers to the region. Žumberak was then part of Austrian Military Frontier, created by the Habsburgs to serve as a defensive buffer between their empire and the Ottoman Empire. Žumberak itself was an enclave within Banija and did not directly border the Ottoman Empire. Most of the Štokavian population were orthodox who, under pressure of the Austrian authorities, became Greek Catholics. Today there are very few Greek Catholics left in the area, most having converted to the Latin Rite. One remaining Greek Catholic church is in Drage, on the Slovenian side of the border near the town of Suhor, the other one is in Metlika.

Towns

The towns surrounding the mountain are Novo mesto, Metlika, Brežice, Črnomelj in Slovenia and towns of Samobor, Jastrebarsko and Ozalj in Croatia.

Politics

A military complex near the top of Sveta Gera, created by the Yugoslav People's Army, is a subject of a dispute between the two new countries in the 1990s. Escalation was prevented due to amicable diplomacy.

In Jazovka pit, where thousands of victims of Partisans massacres was hidden, every years a pilgrimage and a counter-commemoration is held on June 22 (Croatian antifascist day), regularly outnumbering the official ones.

References

ee also

*Mountains of Slovenia