Velebit Caves
The Velebit mountains of Croatia have several deep caves with some of the world's largest subterranean vertical drops.
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[update].
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b Radovan Radovinovič, The Croatian Adriatic Tourist Guide, pg. 143, Zagreb (1999), Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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External links
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