Formation of the Cerkniščica and the Flooding of Cerkniško Polje

Podrobna raziskava gornjega porecja Cerkniscice in njenih sedimentov v Cerkniskem polju je pokazala, da se je recica v kotanjo polja pretocila sele srednjem Wurmu, medtem ko je bil dotok v Cerknisko polje (in ponorne jame) dotlej popolnoma kraski. Njen vrsaj je odrezal severne ponore in preusmeril glavni dotok s polja proti zahodu, posredno na Planinsko polje. Zato so danasnje hidroloske razmere v Planinski jami neposredna posledica dogajanj na Cerkniskem polju. Detailed study of the upper Cerkniscica’s catchment and its sediments in Cerknisko polje revealed that the river turned this direction in the middle Wurm, while in the more remote past, the input to Cerknisko polje (and to the caves) was completely karstic. Its alluvial fan cut the main vertical ponors, and deflected the main polje outflow westwards, indirectly into Planinsko polje. Consequently, recent hydrogeological conditions in Planinska jama are a direct consequence of development in Cerknisko polje.