| Vršič Pass | |
| Elevation M: | 1611 |
| Traversed: | Ruska cesta |
| Map: | Alps |
| Label: | Vršič Pass |
| Coords: | 46.4356°N 13.7444°W |
| Location: | Upper Carniola, Slovenia |
| Range: | Julian Alps |
The Vršič Pass (in Slovenian pronounced as /ʋəɾˈʃitʃ/; Slovenian: prelaz Vršič, Italian: passo della Moistrocca, German: Werschetzpass)[1] is a high mountain pass across the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia. It is the highest pass in Slovenia, with an elevation of, as well as the highest in the Eastern Julian Alps. It connects Upper Carniola with the Trenta Valley in the Slovene Littoral, and it is considered an excellent starting point for excursions to surrounding peaks. Over Vršič, there was an old trail, which was upgraded for military purposes as well as for logging and timber transportation in the early 20th century. The modern road, now known as the Russian Road (Slovenian: Ruska cesta), was built in 1915–17.[2] [3]
The Slovene common noun Slovenian: vršič literally means 'little peak', a diminutive form of the word Slovenian: vrh 'peak'. The name originally referred to Mount Vršič (1738m (5,702feet)), located about 200m (700feet) east of the Vršič Pass. The name Slovenian: Vršič was not applied to the pass until 1911. The name of the peak was first attested in written sources as Werschez in 1763–87. Locally, the pass is known as Slovenian: Na močilu (first attested in 1763–87 as Muschizach or Mushizhach).[4] The Italian name of the pass was Moistrocca.
After World War I, from 1918 to World War II, the Vršič Pass was on the border between Italy and Yugoslavia. Since 1945, together with the Upper Isonzo Valley north of Gorizia, it was incorporated in Yugoslavia, and then in Slovenia.
The Vršič Pass is considered an excellent starting point for excursions to surrounding peaks, including Mala Mojstrovka (2332m (7,651feet)), Velika Mojstrovka (2366m (7,762feet)), Planja (2453m (8,048feet)), Prisojnik (Prisank) (2547m (8,356feet)), Razor (2601m (8,533feet)), Šitna Glava (2087m (6,847feet)), Slemenova Špica (1911m (6,270feet)), Sovna Glava (1750m (5,740feet)), and Suhi Vrh (2109m (6,919feet)), or shorter hikes in the immediate area.
Several mountain lodges are located near the pass: the Erjavec Lodge (Slovenian: Erjavčeva koča; 1515m (4,970feet)), the Tičar Lodge (Slovenian: Tičarjev dom; 1620m (5,320feet)), Mike's Lodge (Slovenian: Mihov dom), the Forest Lodge (Slovenian: Koča na Gozdu; 1226m (4,022feet)), and the Postman's Lodge (Slovenian: Poštarska koča; 1725m (5,659feet)).
The road through the pass rises from Kranjska Gora, traverses the top of the Vršič Pass, and descends into the Soča Valley, via a series of 50 hairpin bends. The upper elevations of the road are rendered impassable by heavy snowfall during much of winter. The road was greatly improved in late 1915 to supply the Isonzo Front of World War I, and it was originally named after Archduke Eugen of Austria-Hungary. The current name, Russian Road (Slovenian: Ruska cesta), refers to the approximately ten to twelve thousand Russian prisoners of war used as laborers in the 1915 construction.[5]
Just off the main road, on the north side of the pass, at an elevation of around 1200m (3,900feet), there is a Russian Orthodox chapel, built by the Russian prisoners of war during World War I.
On the south side of the pass there is a bronze monument in honor of the mountaineer and writer Julius Kugy, work by the architect Boris Kobe and the sculptor Jakob Savinšek. It was erected in 1953.[6]