Out Of Darkness

Discover an underground world lled with little-known species that are slowly coming to light, thanks to the work of cave divers and scientists.

- Megan Shersby

Stanislav, our guide to Postojna Cave, reassures us: “I'll only turn the lights off for a minute or so.” Still, it’s a shock when we are plunged into pitch-black. My eyes strain to pick up even the faintest hint of light, but there is none. We were warned it might be a bit overwhelming, and I’m starting to feel a little disorientated. The only thing I can hear is the quiet breathing of those with me, and the only thing I can feel is the cool metal rail that I’m gripping to steady myself.

I feel completely inadequate in terms of being adapted for the dark, and it’s bizarre to think that anything could live in this kind of environment, but Stanislav assures me that there are over 100 species found in this cave system, including a ‘dragon’.

Postojna Cave is world-famous and is located in Slovenian’s karst region – a limestone plateau that stretches from southwest Slovenia to northeast Italy. The cave was carved by the Pivka River across millions of years, and many parts of the cave system are still flooded. Graffiti dating to 1213 shows that the caves have been used by humans for centuries. The system is over 24km long, with at least four caves, connected by the river, and home to a variety of breathtaking rock formations, and to the secretive ‘dragons’.

But forget about any images you might have of fire-breathing beasts. The ‘dragons’ in question are actually olms, cave-dwelling salamanders, which have been surrounded by mystery for centuries. Local people often saw the olms after heavy rains washed them from the caves, and believed they were the offspring of 'cave dragons'. With the olm's sinuous body and external gills, it’s not too difficult to understand this particular case of mistaken identity.

Adapting to the dark