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  05.03.2021, 07:16h


The underground world of karst

 

After presenting the basic relief and the fundamental phenomenon of tufa, in its newest series of articles on natural heritage, the Public Institute of Krka NP has presented the wealth and diversity of the underground.

Each week, you have been able to read about the network of pits and caves and the living world within, surrounded by darkness and water.

With this series of articles on the underground world of Krka National Park, the Public Institute of Krka National Park has joined in the celebration of the International Year of Caves and Karst (IYCK) 2021.

The International Year of Caves and Karst is a project aimed at raising public awareness of the natural and cultural values of these phenomena. It is organised by the International Speleological Union (Union Internationale de Spéléologie, UIS), an international organisation focused on the research, study and protection of speleological structures and karst. The Union consists of 55 member states, including Croatia.

Karst landscapes cover about 20% of the Earth’s land surface, while in Croatia, karst covers nearly 50% of the country. These landscapes are characterised by caves, pits and surface relief forms that together form unusual and spectacular landscapes. Karst areas are a water source for about 10% of the world’s population, habitat for rare, threatened and endemic members of the animal world, a source of knowledge about our environment, climate change and mineral resources, and areas of cultural heritage, resulting from the lives of numerous local communities in karst areas. They are also important visitor destinations.

Speleological structures and karst landscapes are very sensitive to pollution, excessive use of natural resources and space, destruction and poor management. That is why the public needs to become familiar with the fact that the subterranean world is important for the sustenance of all life on Earth. Public education is needed to inform people about the ways to protect karst areas, and to ensure their responsible and sustainable management.

There are about a hundred caves and pits along the Krka River, and 67 of these fall within the boundaries of Krka National Park. The caves of the Dinaric karst are among the richest in the world in terms of the number of cave species, and 70% of these species are endemic to Croatia. Many are relict species, remnants of fauna from the ancient geological past. The speleological structures in Krka National Park are known to be habitat for over 170 taxa, many of which are endemic to the Dinaric karst or to Croatia, while four species are endemic to Krka National Park (stenoendemic, meaning they are not found anywhere else outside the park). Most representatives of the cave fauna are strictly protected species.

On the left bank of the Krka River, we find two caves that are exceptionally valuable due to the archaeological artefacts discovered within, that testify to the human presence in these caves since the Neolithic, Eneolithic and Early and Middle Bronze ages (Oziđana pećina cave), and the Late Bronze and Early Iron ages (Jazinka pit).

With the exception of Oziđana pećina cave, the caves and pits of Krka National Park are not open to the public. All articles about the subterranean world of karst can be found on the official website of Krka National Park.

Photo: Lucija & Rade Jug