A sleeping giant.

We really will walk on a giant!

But don't worry, it won't wake up.

We are fairly high and there is a fantastic view, even though we are actually on the seabed.

How is that possible?

It is an extinct underwater volcano! The lava here is 23 million years old – that's how long it has been since the volcano, which at the time was deep under the sea, last erupted. Large quantities of volcanic ash, dust and lava spewed out of the volcano – today we can find as colourful rocks along the way. This residue offers special conditions for the growth of plants, hence 358 plant species thrive here! In spring the mountains and meadows are awash with the colours of, among others, dwarf primula and primula villosa, alpine bellflower and alpine pasqueflower. The trees are almost hidden among the colourful palette of flowers, until the pine forest comes into view.

It is thanks to the foresters from the Middle Ages that today the pine forest is as it is. Over the centuries, vast beech forests were chopped down and spruce trees were planted in their place, which not only gave it a special appearance, but also the origin of the name Smrekovec, after the word smreka, which in the Slovenian language means 'spruce', that grow here.

To survive, people needed beech wood for the production of charcoal. Since beech trees grow very slowly, they no longer planted them, preferring to replace them by faster growing spruce trees. Blueberries have grown up from under them. Let's have a sweet treat! Those that have indulged in the sweet blueberries can be identified by their blue-coloured lips from the sweet forest fruits!

We will quickly come across another living species here, whose unusual cracking, gurgling, beating, whistling and occasionally almost growling call sends out a warning signal. Perhaps we will be lucky and will witness the magnificent pairing ritual of western capercaillie (but please keep your distance!). We are in the middle of their habitat. A large number of stunningly beautiful specimens live here on Smrekovec.

Of course, we mustn't disturb timid animals, therefore we will peacefully continue on our way, however, we aren't alone.

There are thousands of millions of them around us, working tirelessly. We often encounter the artwork of these diligent workers – red forest ants – which are extremely important for the forest floor, as they loosen and ventilate it, cultivating it above and below the surface, so that everything is where it should be.

The wonderful ants' nests are merely the roofs of their home. Beneath the surface, a metre or even deeper, the corridors of the labyrinths extend for metres upon metres.

As they have an abundance of work, it's understandable that they don't have time to enjoy the view while at work. Therefore, instead we should lap up the stunning panoramic views!