The Bloke Plateau measures approximately Шаблон:Convert long and Шаблон:Convert wide.[1] It ranges in elevation between Шаблон:Convert and Шаблон:Convert. Together with the Rakitna tectonic block, the plateau is delineated by two distinct Dinaric faults. According to the geographer Anton Melik, the Bloke Plateau is a remnant of a Pliocene peneplain in the middle of the rejuvenated terrain. Poorly permeable karst limestone and Triassic dolomite (in the northern part of the plateau) conditioned the formation of typical surface watercourses (Bloščica Creek and Blatnica Creek), which are bounded by wet grasslands and minerotrophic fens. Lake Bloke (Шаблон:Lang-sl), a reservoir, lies near the settlement of Volčje. Water flows below ground from the Bloke Plateau into Lake Cerknica. The plateau's many hills divide it into the Bloščica Valley and Ločica Valley (or Farovščica Valley), which join to form the Bloke–Fara Karst Field (Шаблон:Lang-sl). There are 45 settlements on the plateau, administratively belonging to the Municipality of Bloke.
The Bloke Plateau was first mentioned in written documents in 1260, and its central settlement of Nova Vas in 1341. The territory was settled in the first millennium BC by the Iapydes (an Illyrian tribe). During the Roman era, a road led across the Bloke Plateau from Aquileia and the Kvarner Gulf toward the Pannonian Basin. Remains of a defense wall and a Roman tower near the village of Benete testify to this history.
Cultural heritage
Culturally, the Bloke Plateau is known as the place where skiing originated in Slovenia,[2] and a cross-country skiing competition is held there every year. The Bloke Plateau has long been crisscrossed by trade routes connecting the interior of Carniola, especially Lower Carniola and Inner Carniola, with Croatia.
