The Moravian Karst ( cs, Moravský kras) is a
karst
Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathering-resistant ro ...
landscape and
protected landscape area to the north of
Brno
Brno ( , ; german: Brünn ) is a city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Located at the confluence of the Svitava and Svratka rivers, Brno has about 380,000 inhabitants, making it the second-largest city in the Czech Republic ...
in the
South Moravian Region
The South Moravian Region ( cs, Jihomoravský kraj; , ; sk, Juhomoravský kraj) is an administrative unit () of the Czech Republic, located in the south-western part of its historical region of Moravia (an exception is Jobova Lhota which trad ...
of the
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...
. It encompasses a number of notable
geological
Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Eart ...
features, including roughly 1100
cave
A cave or cavern is a natural void in the ground, specifically a space large enough for a human to enter. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. The word ''cave'' can refer to smaller openings such as sea ...
rns and
gorge
A canyon (from ; archaic British English spelling: ''cañon''), or gorge, is a deep cleft between escarpments or cliffs resulting from weathering and the erosion, erosive activity of a river over geologic time scales. Rivers have a natural tenden ...
s and covers an area of roughly 92 km².
http://www.moravskykras.net/en/moravian-karst.html
Accessed 9-4-2008. Currently, five of the cave systems (Punkva Caves
The Punkva Caves (Czech: ''Punkevní jeskyně'') are a cave system of the Czech Republic located north of the city of Brno, near the town of Blansko. The Punkva River flows through it. Part of it is the Macocha Gorge, its sinkhole is about 138.7 me ...
(discovered by Karel Absolon
Karel Absolon (16 June 1877 – 6 October 1960) was a Czech archaeologist, geographer, paleontologist, and speleologist. He was born in Boskovice.
Absolon was the grandchild of paleontologist Jindřich Wankel. During his studies at Charles ...
), Balcarka Cave, Kateřinská Cave, Výpustek Cave and Sloupsko-šošůvské Caves+Kůlna Cave
The Kůlna Cave is a cave in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It is part of the Moravian Karst. Visit of Kůlna Cave is part of sightseeing tours of the Sloup-Šošůvka Caves.
Geography
The cave is located in the municipal terri ...
) are open for public tours; another - Amatérská Cave
Amatérská Cave (in Czech ''Amatérská jeskyně'', in English ''Amateurs Cave'', not used) is part of longest cave system in the Moravia, Czech Republic. It is also famous for archaeological discoveries. Except for the entrance, the cave is not ...
, Býčí skála Cave
Býčí skála Cave (in Czech ''Býčí skála'', in German ''Stierfelsen'', in English The Bull Rock Cave) is part of the second longest cave system in Moravia, Czech Republic. It is also famous for archaeological discoveries. Except for the e ...
or Stránská skála (out of the border) only for science exploration.
This region is also home to one of the most important single geological features in the Czech Republic, the Macocha Abyss
The Macocha Abyss, also known as the Macocha Gorge, is a sinkhole in the Moravian Karst cave system of the Czech Republic. The sinkhole is deep, which makes it the deepest of its kind (light hole type) in Central Europe. It is a popular tourist at ...
, a gorge 138 m deep, which was formed when the ceiling of a cave chamber collapsed. Macocha Abyss is also the place where the Punkva River
Punkva is a long river in South Moravia, Czech Republic. It is a Subterranean river in the Moravian Karst and a left tributary of the Svitava. It is the longest underground river in the Czech Republic.
The river forms underground as a confluenc ...
begins to run underground through the Punkva cave system, and two small pools of water are visible at the surface.
The Moravian Karst is a popular tourist
Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism mo ...
attraction in the local area, and large numbers of tourists visit in the summer months. In addition to caverns, the protected landscape area contains well-marked bicycle
A bicycle, also called a pedal cycle, bike or cycle, is a human-powered or motor-powered assisted, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A is called a cyclist, or bicyclist.
Bic ...
trail
A trail, also known as a path or track, is an unpaved lane or small road usually passing through a natural area. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a path or footpath is the preferred term for a pedestrian or hiking trail. Th ...
s and hiking
Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...
paths to explore.
See also
* Punkva Caves
The Punkva Caves (Czech: ''Punkevní jeskyně'') are a cave system of the Czech Republic located north of the city of Brno, near the town of Blansko. The Punkva River flows through it. Part of it is the Macocha Gorge, its sinkhole is about 138.7 me ...
* Macocha Gorge
The Macocha Abyss, also known as the Macocha Gorge, is a sinkhole in the Moravian Karst cave system of the Czech Republic. The sinkhole is deep, which makes it the deepest of its kind (light hole type) in Central Europe. It is a popular tourist at ...
* Výpustek Cave
* Kůlna Cave
The Kůlna Cave is a cave in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It is part of the Moravian Karst. Visit of Kůlna Cave is part of sightseeing tours of the Sloup-Šošůvka Caves.
Geography
The cave is located in the municipal terri ...
* Býčí skála Cave
Býčí skála Cave (in Czech ''Býčí skála'', in German ''Stierfelsen'', in English The Bull Rock Cave) is part of the second longest cave system in Moravia, Czech Republic. It is also famous for archaeological discoveries. Except for the e ...
* Amatérská Cave
Amatérská Cave (in Czech ''Amatérská jeskyně'', in English ''Amateurs Cave'', not used) is part of longest cave system in the Moravia, Czech Republic. It is also famous for archaeological discoveries. Except for the entrance, the cave is not ...
* Stránská skála
* Brno Highlands
The Brno Highlands ( cs, Brněnská vrchovina, german: Brünner Bergland) is a mountain range in the South Moravian Region in the Czech Republic. The highlands, together with the Jevišovice Highlands threshold, form the South-Moravian part of M ...
* Jindřich Wankel
Jindřich Wankel (German: Heinrich Wankel; July 15, 1821, Prague – April 5, 1897, Olomouc) was a Bohemian palaeontologist and archaeologist.
Wankel was born to Damian Wankel, a clerk, and his wife Magdalena, née Schwarz, in a bilingual envir ...
* Karel Absolon
Karel Absolon (16 June 1877 – 6 October 1960) was a Czech archaeologist, geographer, paleontologist, and speleologist. He was born in Boskovice.
Absolon was the grandchild of paleontologist Jindřich Wankel. During his studies at Charles ...
References
External links
Moravian Karst Show Caves Administration
(English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
)
Blansko town site with tourism information
Landforms of the Czech Republic
Caves of the Czech Republic
Limestone caves
Show caves in the Czech Republic
Tourist attractions in the Czech Republic
Karst
Canyons and gorges of Europe
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