Hrvatsko Zagorje ( pronounced [xř̩ʋatsko zǎːɡorje] ; Croatian Zagorje ; zagorje is Croatian for 'backland' or 'behind the hills') is a cultural region in northern Croatia , traditionally separated from the country's capital Zagreb by the Medvednica Mountain. It comprises the whole area north of Mount Medvednica up to Slovenia in the north and west, and up to the regions of Međimurje and Podravina in the north and east. The population of Zagorje is not recorded as such, as it is administratively divided among Krapina-Zagorje County (total population 142,432), and western and central part of Varaždin County (total population 183,730). The population of Zagorje can be reasonably estimated to exceed 300,000 people.
44-534: In Croatia, the area is usually referred to simply as Zagorje (Croatian for 'backland' or 'behind the hills'; with respect to Medvednica ). However, to avoid confusion with the nearby Municipality of Zagorje ob Savi in Slovenia, the Croatian part is called Hrvatsko Zagorje , meaning 'Croatian Zagorje'. The town of Krapina is often referred to as the cultural capital of Kajkavian dialect (Croatian: Kajkavščina ),
88-517: A nature park ( park prirode ), a type of preservation lesser than a national park . During Miocene and Pliocene , the mountain was an island within the Pannonian Sea . The name Medvednica could be translated as "bear mountain". There are several other toponyms on the mountain using the Kajkavian dialect term medved 'bear' (compare Standard Croatian : medvjed ), most notably Medvedgrad ,
132-603: A pelite . Slate can be made into roofing slate, a type of roof tile which are installed by a slater . Slate has two lines of breakability—cleavage and grain—which make it possible to split the stone into thin sheets. When broken, slate retains a natural appearance while remaining relatively flat and easy to stack. A series of "slate booms" occurred in Europe from the 1870s until the First World War following improvements in railway, road and waterway transportation systems. Slate
176-543: A catastrophic ice break . Later, in February 1983, large devastations occurred as a result of strong wind (large damage on fir). Effects of such a strong wind can be seen in the area of Adolfovac as of early 2010s. The dominant association in the forest is Epimedio carpinetum-betuli at lower elevations, Lamio orvalae-Fagetum at middle elevations, and Festuco drymeiae-Abietetum at higher elevations. The associations Querco-Castaneetum sativae and Luzulo-Fagetum also have
220-536: A distance of 4023 m. The new gondola lift was opened on 23 February 2022, has a capacity of 10 people and WiFi. On Medvednica are dozen of mountain huts for traditional one-day trips to the mountain. Because of its proximity to Zagreb , Medvednica has many visitors, especially during weekends. Slate Slate is a fine-grained, foliated , homogeneous, metamorphic rock derived from an original shale -type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade, regional metamorphism . It
264-783: A few entirely in Middle Triassic dolomite-limestone (i.e. Družanica I), or with entrances in that layer (i.e. Bijele sige , Zakičnica I). A few are entirely in Upper Triassic stromatolitic dolomite (i.e. Zakičnica V). The 7×32 m chamber of the Pećina Kolarske gore formed in Lithothamnion limestone. Exceptionally old is the Carboniferous layer of dolomite in which Velika peć na Rogu , Medvednica's "most imposing entrance", formed. Although most caves are solutional caves ,
308-453: A light-green, spotted texture. These spheres are sometimes deformed by a subsequent applied stress field into ovoids, which appear as ellipses when viewed on a cleavage plane of the specimen. However, some evidence shows that reduced spots may also form after deformation and acquire an elliptical shape from preferential infiltration along the cleavage direction, so caution is required in using reduction ellipsoids to estimate deformation. Before
352-406: A long-lasting weathertight roof with a lifespan of around 60–125 years. Some mainland European slate suppliers suggest that using hook fixing means that: The metal hooks are, however, visible and may be unsuitable for historic properties. Slate tiles are often used for interior and exterior flooring, stairs, walkways and wall cladding. Tiles are installed and set on mortar and grouted along
396-410: A loss of up to 50% of the volume of the mudrock as it is compacted. Grains of platy minerals, such as clay minerals , are rotated to form parallel layers perpendicular to the direction of compaction, which begin to impart cleavage to the rock. Slaty cleavage is fully developed as the clay minerals begin to be converted to chlorite and mica. Organic carbon in the rock is converted to graphite . Slate
440-401: A medieval castle on its southwestern edges. Sljeme ( [sʎême] ; Kajkavian : Sleme ) means summit , and it is a name often used metonymically to refer to the entire mountain. Medvednica has many foothills, including Grmoščica . As of 2011, 64 speleological objects are known to be on Medvednica. The caves of Medvednica are mostly in upper Tortonian limestone. But there are
484-570: A rudimentary damp-proof membrane . Small offcuts are used as shims to level floor joists. In areas where slate is plentiful it is also used in pieces of various sizes for building walls and hedges, sometimes combined with other kinds of stone. Because it is a good electrical insulator and fireproof, it was used to construct early-20th-century electric switchboards and relay controls for large electric motors . Because of its thermal stability and chemical inertness, slate has been used for laboratory bench tops and for billiard table tops. Slate
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#1732851502340528-447: A significant presence. Rarer associations include Luzulo luzuloidi-Quercetum , Hieracio racemosi-Quercetum , Tilio-Taxetum , Blechno-Fagetum , Chrysanthemo acrophylli-Aceretum pseudoplatani , Ostryo-Quercetum pubescentis , and Carici brizoides-Alnetum glutinosae . Being adjacent to a capital city, Medvednica is subject to a high rate of colonization by invasive species , including Robinia pseudoacacia . A winter sports center
572-413: A year have average daily maxima higher than 25 °C (77 °F), and only one day reaches above 30 °C (86 °F). The coldest month is January with a mean monthly air temperature of −3.1 °C (26.4 °F), while the warmest month is July with an average temperature of 15.2 °C (59.4 °F). Insolation exceeds Zagreb's by about 100 hours annually. This difference manifests itself during
616-620: A year, the thickest being in February. The skiing slopes are also covered with artificial snow when necessary. Much more sunshine occurs during the winter on Medvednica than in Zagreb or Zagorje, so it is not surprising that winter is the most visited season on the Medvednica mountain. Medvednica, in comparison to the surrounding lowland area, behaves as an "island" in its climate characteristics, with more precipitation, lower temperatures, and higher duration and quantity of snow cover. The Medvednica area
660-556: Is 40 (4 in Zagreb). The mean annual number of days with snowfall on the top of Medvednica, most usually in January and February, is 54 days. The number of days with strong wind is 91 (26 in Zagreb) and they are more frequent during the cold part of the year. The number of days with storm-force wind is 21 (2 in Zagreb), also mostly during the cold part of the year. In 1980, the forests of Medvednica, especially beech trees, were heavily stricken by
704-401: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Medvednica Medvednica ( pronounced [mědʋednitsa] , lit. ' Bear mountain ' ) is a mountain in central Croatia , just north of Zagreb , and marking the southern border of the historic region of Zagorje . The highest peak, at 1,035 m (3,396 ft) is Sljeme . Most of the area of Medvednica is
748-422: Is a fine-grained, metamorphic rock that shows no obvious compositional layering but can easily be split into thin slabs and plates. It is usually formed by low-grade regional metamorphism of mudrock . This mild degree of metamorphism produces a rock in which the individual mineral crystals remain microscopic in size, producing a characteristic slaty cleavage in which fresh cleavage surfaces appear dull. This
792-525: Is also fire resistant and energy efficient. Slate roof tiles are usually fixed (fastened) either with nails or with hooks (as is common with Spanish slate). In the UK, fixing is typically with double nails onto timber battens (England and Wales) or nailed directly onto timber sarking boards (Scotland and Northern Ireland). Nails were traditionally of copper, although there are modern alloy and stainless steel alternatives. Both these methods, if used properly, provide
836-477: Is based on the northern slopes towards Sljeme. The center has hosted several FIS World Cup slalom skiing races, known as the Snow Queen Trophy . The winter sports center consists of one chairlift for three persons and two T-bar lifts . Equipment for producing artificial snow has been added, and because of that, the skiing season has been prolonged to more than four months. Three ways exist to reach
880-442: Is in contrast to the silky cleaved surfaces of phyllite , which is the next-higher grade of metamorphic rock derived from mudstone. The direction of cleavage is independent of any sedimentary structures in the original mudrock, reflecting instead the direction of regional compression. Slaty cleavage is continuous, meaning that the individual cleavage planes are too closely spaced to be discernible in hand samples. The texture of
924-405: Is located in a temperate zone where air temperature decreases for 0.5 °C for every 100 m of elevation. Based on the annual rate of precipitation, Medvednica is characterised as having a continental precipitation regimen with maximum precipitation during the warm part of the year (April to September). During summer and winter, temperature inversion is sometimes present. An anticyclone forms above
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#1732851502340968-462: Is mainly composed of the minerals quartz, illite , and chlorite, which account for up to 95% of its composition. The most important accessory minerals are iron oxides (such as hematite and magnetite ), iron sulfides (such as pyrite ), and carbonate minerals. Feldspar may be present as albite or, less commonly, orthoclase . Occasionally, as in the purple slates of North Wales , ferrous ( iron(II) ) reduction spheres form around iron nuclei, leaving
1012-486: Is not to be confused with shale, from which it may be formed, or schist . The word "slate" is also used for certain types of object made from slate rock. It may mean a single roofing tile made of slate, or a writing slate , which was traditionally a small, smooth piece of the rock, often framed in wood, used with chalk as a notepad or notice board, and especially for recording charges in pubs and inns. The phrases "clean slate" and " blank slate " come from this usage. Slate
1056-505: Is particularly suitable as a roofing material as it has an extremely low water absorption index of less than 0.4%, making the material resistant to frost damage. Natural slate, which requires only minimal processing, has an embodied energy that compares favorably with other roofing materials. Natural slate is used by building professionals as a result of its beauty and durability. Slate is incredibly durable and can last several hundred years, often with little or no maintenance. Natural slate
1100-426: Is the finest-grained foliated metamorphic rock. Foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering, but instead is in planes perpendicular to the direction of metamorphic compression. The foliation in slate, called " slaty cleavage ", is caused by strong compression in which fine-grained clay forms flakes to regrow in planes perpendicular to the compression. When expertly "cut" by striking parallel to
1144-576: The Kustošijanka cave is of mostly tectonic origin. The longest cave is Veternica , and other long caves include Javornica kod Bizeka and Židovske jame [ ro ] . While deepest cave from entrance to lowest point is Velebitaška jama at 45 m, the highest vertical elevation difference within a cave is in Veternica at 170 m. Near the ridge there is a 12 m tall cliff of green slate called Šumarev grob , from which one of
1188-666: The Mid North at Mintaro and Spalding . Slate is abundant in Brazil , the world's second-largest producer of slate, around Papagaios in Minas Gerais , which extracts 95 percent of Brazil's slate. However, not all "slate" products from Brazil are entitled to bear the CE mark . Most slate in Europe today comes from Spain , the world's largest producer and exporter of natural slate, and 90 percent of Europe's natural slate used for roofing originates from
1232-686: The South Slavic dialect spoken in north-western Croatia. Every year, the Festival of Kajkavian Song ( Croatian : Festival kajkavske popevke ) takes place in Krapina. Traditional manufacturing of children's wooden toys in Hrvatsko Zagorje has been listed by Unesco as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009. 2011 Census: 46°6′N 16°0′E / 46.100°N 16.000°E / 46.100; 16.000 This Central Croatian geography article
1276-584: The Zagreb–Grič station it is 67 days annually. On all stations, the warm part of the year (from April to September) has the most thunderstorm days; these are often connected to showers. June has the most thunderstorm days (Puntijarka 7). The annual precipitation on Medvednica is about 50% higher in comparison to Zagreb (Zagreb: 844 mm (33.2 in), Sljeme: 1,238 mm (48.7 in), Kraljičin zdenac: 1,159 mm (45.6 in), Fakultetsko dobro: 1,142 mm (45.0 in)). Average number of days with hoar
1320-645: The calls of all four species of wild turkey in North America: eastern, Rio Grande, Osceola and Merriam's. Slate is found in the Arctic and was used by Inuit to make the blades for ulus . China has vast slate deposits; in recent years its export of finished and unfinished slate has increased. Deposits of slate exist throughout Australia, with large reserves quarried in the Adelaide Hills in Willunga , Kanmantoo , and
1364-449: The cold continent during winter. When its center is close to Croatia, the weather is cold and gloomy in Zagreb and warmer at Sljeme. The mean annual air temperature on Medvednica is 6.2 °C (43.2 °F), compared with 11.4 °C (52.5 °F) in Zagreb. The mean temperature in summer months is on average lower by 6 °C (11 °F) than in Zagreb. On average, 15 days have temperatures below −10 °C (14 °F), eight days
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1408-439: The colder period of the year, from October to March, when more fog occurs in Zagreb. The relative air humidity is largest during the cold part of the year, and generally is larger on stations with higher altitude because of lower temperatures, but luxuriant vegetation. The number of days with relative humidity above 80% is greatest on Puntijarka (158 days annually), and it decreases with the decrease in elevation; for example, at
1452-634: The edges. Chemical sealants are often used on tiles to improve durability and appearance, increase stain resistance, reduce efflorescence , and increase or reduce surface smoothness. Tiles are often sold gauged, meaning that the back surface is ground for ease of installation. Slate flooring can be slippery when used in external locations subject to rain. Slate tiles were used in 19th century UK building construction (apart from roofs) and in slate quarrying areas such as Blaenau Ffestiniog and Bethesda , Wales there are still many buildings wholly constructed of slate. Slates can also be set into walls to provide
1496-512: The foliation with a specialized tool in the quarry, many slates display a property called fissility , forming smooth, flat sheets of stone which have long been used for roofing , floor tiles, and other purposes. Slate is frequently grey in color, especially when seen en masse covering roofs. However, slate occurs in a variety of colors even from a single locality; for example, slate from North Wales can be found in many shades of grey, from pale to dark, and may also be purple, green, or cyan. Slate
1540-502: The mid-19th century, the terms "slate", " shale ", and " schist " were not sharply distinguished. In the context of underground coal mining in the United States, the term slate was commonly used to refer to shale well into the 20th century. For example, roof slate referred to shale above a coal seam , and draw slate referred to shale that fell from the mine roof as the coal was removed. The British Geological Survey recommends that
1584-453: The mountain: by road (with a car or a bus) or on foot (numerous mountain paths). In the past, an older gondola lift was present, which started from the Gračani neighborhood just below Medvednica. The cable car had run from 1963 to 2007, when a major fault in the engine room made repairs economically impossible. The gondola had a capacity for four people, with a 23-minute journey time, covering
1628-768: The slate from Wales and Cumbria is colored slate (non-blue): purple and formerly green in Wales and green in Cumbria. In North America, slate is produced in Newfoundland , eastern Pennsylvania , Buckingham County, Virginia , and the Slate Valley region in Vermont and New York , where colored slate is mined in the Granville, New York , area. A major slating operation existed in Monson, Maine , during
1672-732: The slate industry there. Lesser slate-producing regions in present-day Europe include Wales (with UNESCO landscape status and a museum at Llanberis ), Cornwall (famously the village of Delabole ), Cumbria (see Burlington Slate Quarries , Honister Slate Mine and Skiddaw Slate ) and, formerly in the West Highlands of Scotland, around Ballachulish and the Slate Islands in the United Kingdom . Parts of France ( Anjou , Loire Valley , Ardennes , Brittany , Savoie ) and Belgium (Ardennes), Liguria in northern Italy , especially between
1716-544: The slate is totally dominated by these pervasive cleavage planes. Under a microscope, the slate is found to consist of very thin lenses of quartz and feldspar (QF-domains) separated by layers of mica (M-domains). These are typically less than 100 μm (micron) thick. Because slate was formed in low heat and pressure, compared to most other metamorphic rocks, some fossils can be found in slate; sometimes even microscopic remains of delicate organisms can be found in slate. The process of conversion of mudrock to slate involves
1760-453: The springs of the Bliznec flows. The area Bliznec – Šumarev grob was designated a special reserve on 26 November 1963. The climate of the Medvednica mountain is typical for Central European mountain ranges. The average annual precipitation is around 1300 mm (cf. 840 mm at Zagreb–Grič), which provides for an abundance of rich spring wells. Snow cover lasts for about 100 days in
1804-415: The term "slate" be used in scientific writings only when very little else is known about the rock that would allow a more definite classification. For example, if the characteristics of the rock show definitely that it was formed by metamorphosis of shale, it should be described in scientific writings as a metashale. If its origin is uncertain, but the rock is known to be rich in mica, it should be described as
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1848-451: The town of Lavagna (whose name is inherited as the term for chalkboard in Italian ) and Fontanabuona valley; Portugal especially around Valongo in the north of the country. Germany 's Moselle River region, Hunsrück (with a former mine open as a museum at Fell ), Eifel , Westerwald , Thuringia and north Bavaria ; and Alta , Norway (actually schist , not a true slate). Some of
1892-460: Was used by earlier cultures as whetstone to hone knives, but whetstones are nowadays more typically made of quartz. In 18th- and 19th-century schools, slate was extensively used for blackboards and individual writing slates , for which slate or chalk pencils were used. In modern homes slate is often used as table coasters. In areas where it is available, high-quality slate is used for tombstones and commemorative tablets. In some cases slate
1936-478: Was used by the ancient Maya civilization to fashion stelae . Slate was the traditional material of choice for black Go stones in Japan, alongside clamshell for white stones. It is now considered to be a luxury. Pennsylvania slate is widely used in the manufacture of turkey calls used for hunting turkeys. The tones produced from the slate, when scratched with various species of wood striker, imitates almost exactly
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