other early engravings of scenes in this cave profoundly influenced European views about caves but enormously exaggerated the size of rooms and passages. William R. Halliday collection, courtesy of Trevor Shaw.

WILLIAM R.HALLIDAY See also Folklore and Mythology; Religious Sites

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The seasonal lake of Cerknica occupies a level depression immediately south of the town of Cerknica and 10 km east of Postojna. The floor area of this depression is 38 km2, of which two-thirds is flooded every winter to form the lake. Its regular water supply is two-

fold: underground from the Obrh stream which sinks nearby in Loško Polje, and also from a few surface streams such as the Cerkniščica. In addition, when the local water table rises as a result of large amounts of rainfall, water pours out of holes (estavelles) in the level bottom of the “lake” and from caves around its edge. When the water table drops again, the lake flows back into many of these holes. It also drains into several overflow caves such as Velika and Mala Karlovica at its northwest corner, with most of the water going underground to feed karst springs in Planinsko Polje.