Velebit caves

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The Lukina Jama-Trojama cave system. Overview of the geographical position and 3D cave cross-section Lukina Jama - Trojama cave.jpg
The Lukina Jama–Trojama cave system. Overview of the geographical position and 3D cave cross-section

The Velebit mountains of Croatia have several deep caves with some of the world's largest subterranean vertical drops.

Contents

The "Lukina jama" cave is 1431 m deep (2013), the deepest cave in Croatia and 17th deepest cave in the world and the deepest cave in southeast Europe. [1] At its foot, there are ponds and streams including one of the largest known colonies of subterranean leeches ( Erpobdella mestrovi ), which has been ascertained to represent a new species, genus and also family. [1] Other species discovered in the system, include the air-breathing land snails Zospeum tholussum . [2] Like Lukina jama, Slovačka jama, Velebita and Meduza are also located at the "Hajdučki i Rožanski kukovi" special reserve, a dedicated part of the Sjeverni Velebit national park.

Other notable caves include the "Slovačka jama" ( Slovak pit), (1,320 m deep), "Velebita" (1026 m deep with underground free fall vertical drop of 513 metres ) and "Meduza" (679 m deep).

The vertical shaft "Patkov Gušt", named after a deceased Croatian speleologist [3] is 553 meters deep and the second deepest pitch in the world as of 2007.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Radovan Radovinovič, The Croatian Adriatic Tourist Guide, pg. 143, Zagreb (1999), ISBN   953-178-097-8
  2. ↑ Alexander M. Weigand (2013). "New Zospeum species (Gastropoda, Ellobioidea, Carychiidae) from 980 m depth in the Lukina jama–Trojama cave system (Velebit Mts., Croatia)" (PDF). Subterranean Biology. 11: 45–53. doi: 10.3897/subtbiol.11.5966 . Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-01-23. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
  3. ↑ D.Bakšić, A.Bakšić (2008). "Speleological exploration of pit Patkov gušt". Croatian speleological server. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2012.



44°46′01″N15°01′35″E / 44.76694°N 15.02639°E / 44.76694; 15.02639

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