Moravian Karst (Geographical wonders)-Part 1

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Geography and chemistry were two of my favourite subjects during my school days. This nature’s wonder is all about the geography and chemical compositions

Moravian Karst is located in the moravian region of Czech Republic. This is one of the most important karst areas of Central Europe. Karst topography is a landscape shaped by the dissolution of a layer or layers of soluble bedrock usually carbonate rock such as limestone or dolomite. Karst topography is also characterized by subterranean limestone caverns, carved by groundwater.

In the area of Moravian Karst, there are more than 1100 caverns and gorges. But only 4 caves of the all number are open to public. They are:

• Punkvevní jeskyně (Punkva Caves) with their underground river.
• Kateřinská jeskyně (Catherine’s Cave) with its unique limestone columns.
• The Balcarka Cave.
• Sloupsko-šošůvské jeskyně (Sloup-Šošůvka Caves) are made by huge corridors and underground gorges.

We did not visit all four caves because it took us almost half a day to enjoy this one cave which is Kateřinská jeskyně (Catherine’s Cave) and rest of the day we just hiked the mountains nearby.

The main features of this cave are stalactite and stalagmite formation, sinkhole and Underground River.

Stalactite and stalagmite formation:
A stalactite meaning "that which drips" is a type of speleothem (secondary mineral) that hangs from the ceiling of limestone caves. It is a type of dripstone. Stalactites are formed by the deposition of calcium carbonate and other minerals, which is precipitated from mineralized water solutions. Limestone is calcium carbonate rock which is dissolved by water that contains carbon dioxide, forming a calcium bicarbonate solution. This solution travels through the rock until it reaches an edge and if this is on the roof of a cave it will drip down. This dripping solution then evaporates and forms the cone shaped stalactite.
The same water drop that falls from the tip of a stalactite, deposit more calcite on the floor below, eventually resulting in a rounded stalagmite.

The pictures below should suffice for what I am trying to explain above:


















 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalactites

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karst
http://www.moravskykras.net/en/moravian-karst.html

Comments

  1. ಸಾಗರದಾಚೆಯ ಇಂಚರ16 October 2010 at 18:12

    Amazing Bhavana,
    Nature is really amazing

    ReplyDelete
  2. S.R.Ayyangar17 October 2010 at 07:00

    Wonderful Nature's creation.

    ReplyDelete
  3. ಅನಂತ್ ರಾಜ್17 October 2010 at 10:20

    Thanks for sharing nature's amazing features and nice photographs Bhavana.


    Ananth

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dr.D.T.Krishna Murthy.17 October 2010 at 13:08

    Bhaavana;Thanks for sharing the wonderful photographs and information.you will be surprised to know that we have these stalactite caves called
    'KAVALA CAVES',near DANDELI.The formation is in the form of a huge 'shiva lingam'.Every year a'jaatre'is held during every shivaraatri.

    ReplyDelete
  5. ಚುಕ್ಕಿಚಿತ್ತಾರ18 October 2010 at 05:57

    nice article..
    thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Bhavana Rao18 October 2010 at 16:20

    Thanks all..:))
    @ KrishnaMurthy, i did not know about this Kavala
    .. thanks for this info..

    ReplyDelete
  7. Romeo Das18 October 2010 at 21:42

    That was really an interesting and informative post Bhavana! Nature at its best. The clicks are amazing too. Never knew such a place existed. Thanks for sharing :)

    Btw, hope you enjoy reading my post - When love calls

    Take care and keep blogging :)

    ReplyDelete

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