Naslov
Cerovačke caves – 100 years of exploration, scientific research and touristic use of the one of most important cave complex in Croatia

Autori
Bočić, Neven

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
23rd INTERNATIONAL KARSTOLOGICAL SCHOOL "CLASSICAL KARST" Caves – Explorations and Studies, PROGRAM & EXCURSIONS & UIS & ABSTRACTS / Zupan Hajna, Nadja ; Mihevc, Andrej ; Gostinčar Petra - Postojna : Karst Research Institute - ZRC SAZU, 2015, 96-97

ISBN
978-961-254-808-7

Skup
23rd INTERNATIONAL KARSTOLOGICAL SCHOOL "CLASSICAL KARST" Caves – Explorations and Studies

Mjesto i datum
Postojna, Slovenija, 15.06.2015. - 21.06.2015

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
Cerovačke caves; speleology; history of speleology; show caves; Velebit; Croatia

Sažetak
Cerovačke caves are situated at the foot of the northern slope of Crnopac massif (SE part of Velebit Mt.) on the southern edge of the Gračac karst polje. There are three caves: Gornja (Upper) Cerovačka 1290 m length, Srednja (Middle) Cerovačka 390 m length and Donja (Lower) Cerovačka cave around 4200 m length (explorations are in progress). Upper Cerovačka cave was known to local inhabitants as the Kesića cave or the Cave in Kesića cliff. Lower Cerovačka cave was discovered during the construction of the Lika railroad in 1914. For the beginning of their research most credit goes to the railway supervising engineer Nikola Turkalj. Therefore, the name Turkaljeve caves can also be found. The adaptations of caves for tourist purposes started in 1951, in 1961 they were protected as geomorphological natural monument and electric lighting was installed in 1977. Today the caves are governed by the Velebit Nature Park Public Institution. These caves have been explored by the famous Croatian speleologists like Mirko Malez, Zlatko Pepeonik, Srećko Božičević and others. Due to dominantly carbonate structure of this part of Velebit, waters flow subterraneous through Crnopac massif, generally towards the south. Underground waters get water from the sinking streams that come from karst poljes in Lika and Gračac area and flow underground towards south. So, the Cerovačke caves have very strong geospeleogical significance. They are, together with other big known caves on Crnopac (Kita Gačešina cave 28629 m length, Munižaba cave 9175 m length) part of inactive zone of this hydrological karst system which drains surface waters from Gračac karst polje. Cerovačke caves are also an important palaeontological, archaeological and biospeleological site. Remains of the Pleistocene animals like cave bear and cave lion were found there, as well as many other animals especially smaller rodents and birds. Also, bone remains of Palaeolithic human Homo sapiens fossils were found. Archaeological artefacts (pottery fragments, metallic, bone and stone findings) show that the Lower Cerovačka cave was used since the Middle Bronze Age (1400-1200 B.C.). Cerovačke caves also have a very rich underground fauna. Upper cave is type locality for three species, while Lower cave is type locality site for five species. Numerous speleological and scientific researches in these caves are also carried out today. So, priceless scientific, speleological and tourist importance of the Cerovačke caves can be seen. We can conclude that they are among the most valuable caves in the Croatian karst. It is very important to continue with speleological explorations in order to discover new, so far unknown parts. It is also necessary to continue with systematic scientific researches.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Geografija

POVEZANOST RADA