Vjetrenica, the largest cave in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), a protected natural monument, and a tourist destination in the southeastern part of our country, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list yesterday. This decision was made in New Delhi at the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee. We visited this natural phenomenon last year, a priceless treasure with immense biodiversity.
Vjetrenica, estimated to be around five million years old, first opened to the public in 1964. It remained accessible until 1991, after which it was closed for more than 18 years.
Located in the municipality of Ravno, at the western end of Popovo Polje, the cave sits at an elevation of 260 meters above sea level. It is one of the most beautiful and significant speleological sites in BiH. The cave is rich in water, featuring four main watercourses and numerous smaller periodic streams with many underground lakes. These include the 180-meter-long Veliko Lake, the Duboko Lake with a maximum depth of four meters, and the Malo Lake, among others. The cave was first mentioned in the mid-first century in the work “Natural History.”
Vjetrenica boasts a rich cave ecosystem that includes many species of fauna, the olm (Proteus anguinus), natural lakes, drinking water, cave formations, as well as numerous legends and myths. Inside, there is a group of stalagmites known as the “Turkish Graveyard,” named by Hadzibeg Rizvanbegovic, who visited the cave with his army about a hundred years ago. This visit is considered the first documented visit to Vjetrenica. There is also a man-made stone table and several stone seats believed to have been used by outlaws who, according to old traditions, found refuge in the cave’s darkness and depth.
“A strong wind blows from Vjetrenica due to the difference in temperature and the cracks in the hill where the cave is located. The internal temperature is always 11 degrees Celsius, and the greater the temperature difference, the stronger the wind. For those visiting during the summer, Vjetrenica offers natural air conditioning,” Helena Brajkovic, a professional guide, explains.
