Vršič Pass

The Vršič Pass (pronounced [ʋəɾˈʃitʃ]; Slovene: prelaz Vršič, Italian: Passo della Moistrocca, German: Werschetzpass), with an elevation of 1,611 metres (5,285 ft), is a high mountain pass across the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia. It is the highest pass in Slovenia, as well as the highest in the Eastern Julian Alps. It connects Upper Carniola with the Trenta Valley in the Slovene Littoral. The road across the pass, known as the Russian Road (Ruska cesta), was built for military purposes, to supply the Isonzo front of World War I. The Vršič Pass is considered an excellent starting point for excursions to surrounding peaks.

Name

The Slovene common noun vršič literally means 'little peak', a diminutive form of the word vrh 'peak'. The name originally referred to Mount Vršič (1,738 m or 5,702 ft), located about 200 m (660 ft) east of the Vršič Pass. The name 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 Na močilu (first attested in 1763–87 as Muschizach or Mushizhach). The Italian name of the pass was Moistrocca.