The Cave of the Sežana River Reka awaits. It holds secrets whispered by the earth itself. The Jama Sežanske Reke is not just a cave. It is a testament to the relentless curiosity of explorers. It is a journey into the heart of the earth.
Back in the 19th century people searched for a cave reaching the Reka River. They needed drinking water. Finding a cave that led to the Reka became a lifetime achievement. Most cavers explore this area because of the Reka. Usually they are separated from it by over 300 meters of hard work.
The entrance to Jama Sežanske Reke is near the village Orlek by Sežana. More than a decade ago Claudio and Stojan noticed steam pillars in a sinkhole. The pillars rose without cave connection which was interesting. Weeks later after rainfall they heard a murmur in the sinkhole. It signaled a big discovery. The sinkhole was windier than usual cave drafts.
Claudio and Stojan dug a crack in the earth. They widened it daily. In one year they found small shafts. They expanded hopeless cracks. They lost the draft and faced an imposing rockfall. It brought pessimism because of its instability. For ten years they tried to follow the draft. It proved fruitless without real motivation.
Cavers from Ajdovščina and Sežana joined them. They brought fresh impetus. The Jama Sežanske Reke finally started to yield. They stabilized the rockfall. Eventually they reached Wadaleaks level at 43 meters deep. They expanded narrow passages. Soon they heard the murmur of the Reka. Finally they stopped before a window. Beyond was black darkness and a 67-meter drop. The Reka was very close.
When they reached the Reka they found a rope. It hung from the Abyss in Stršinkna Valley. Its entrance is 300 meters west. Cavers of Sežana explored this cave. They reached the Reka in 2003. They arrived at the same hall as the JSR researchers eight years later. Two separate teams from different clubs reached the same cave. This created a new caving system.
The descent to the first dunes of Reka is fascinating. Water droplets fill the air. The strongest lights offer little help. Reaching the muddy dunes of the great hall another 50 meters of depth separated them from the Reka. The view from here is among the cave’s most beautiful.
After two more descents they stepped into the Reka’s riverbed. The river disappeared mysteriously between stone blocks. In the inlet lake they saw proteus and prawns. They considered diving research that had already occurred here. Diver Simon Burja swam over 250 meters in the syphon. He did not reach the dry parts of the cave.
There has been no diving research in the downstream part yet. It is possible to take a boat ride across the lake. But the rudists scattered across the outflow walls impressed them more. They admired them in even greater quantities in abysses on the way back.
They said goodbye to Reka. They photographed the levels leading to the exit. After four hours they emerged into the dark night. They were full of impressions of the researchers’ immense efforts. Bole, Mojca, Alex, and Lisette deserve praise. They lit and posed in this beautiful Jama Sežanske Reke.
In 2014, a new approach was made to the Reka River. Explorers and researchers traced water with fluorescent substances. This was done between Jama Sežanske Reke and the Trebiciano abyss. The experiment confirmed the water connection. The tracer reached Trebiciano abyss after nearly four days. The return was likely total. It defined a direct channel with longer paths than expected.
Jama Sežanske Reke remains a testament to nature’s artistry. It is a tribute to human perseverance.