Earth: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, 14th 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, Slovacka 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 "Slovacka 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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Radovan Radovinovič, The Croatian Adriatic Tourist Guide, pg. 143, Zagreb (1999), ISBN:953-178-097-8
- ↑ Alexander M. Weigand (2013). "New Zospeum species (Gastropoda, Ellobioidea, Carychiidae) from 980 m depth in the Lukina jama–Trojama cave system (Velebit Mts., Croatia)". Subterranean Biology 11: 45–53. doi:10.3897/subtbiol.11.5966. https://www.pensoft.net/J_FILES/13/articles/5966/5966-G-3-layout.pdf.
- ↑ D.Bakšić, A.Bakšić (2008). "Speleological exploration of pit Patkov gušt". Croatian speleological server. http://www.speleologija.hr/patkovgust/indexen.html.
External links
[ ⚑ ] 44°46′01″N 15°01′35″E / 44.76694°N 15.02639°E
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