The Macocha Abyss (), also known as the Macocha Gorge, is a
sinkhole
A sinkhole is a depression or hole in the ground caused by some form of collapse of the surface layer. The term is sometimes used to refer to doline, enclosed depressions that are also known as shakeholes, and to openings where surface water ...
in the
Moravian Karst cave system of the
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...
. The sinkhole is deep, which makes it the deepest of its kind (light hole type) in
Central Europe
Central Europe is a geographical region of Europe between Eastern Europe, Eastern, Southern Europe, Southern, Western Europe, Western and Northern Europe, Northern Europe. Central Europe is known for its cultural diversity; however, countries in ...
. It is a popular
tourist attraction
A tourist attraction is a place of interest that tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, offering leisure and amusement.
Types
Places of natural beaut ...
for casual visitors to the region, in addition to
caver
Caving, also known as spelunking (United States and Canada) and potholing (United Kingdom and Ireland), is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems (as distinguished from show caves). In contrast, speleology is the scientific ...
s and advanced
technical divers.
Location
Macocha Abyss is located in the
Vilémovice municipality in the
South Moravian Region
The South Moravian Region (; , ; ), or just South Moravia, is an Regions of the Czech Republic, administrative unit () of the Czech Republic, located in the south-western part of its historical region of Moravia. The region's capital is Brno, th ...
, north of the city of
Brno
Brno ( , ; ) is a Statutory city (Czech Republic), city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Located at the confluence of the Svitava (river), Svitava and Svratka (river), Svratka rivers, Brno has about 403,000 inhabitants, making ...
. It is part of the
Punkva Caves and the
Punkva River flows through it.
Description
The abyss is long and wide. It is deep to the surface of Dolnà Lake. Below the surface of Dolnà Lake are other underground spaces, so far explored to a total depth of . The dimensions of the abyss allow for its overall daylight and therefore it is classified in the "light hole" abyss category.
At the beginning of the Pustý Žleb (Desolate Canyon), below the town of
Sloup, the waters of the Sloupský Brook (one of the tributaries of the subterranean river Punkva) helped to form an extensive system of underground passages, domes and abysses. This system, measuring approximately , is known as the Sloupsko-šošůvské jeskyně (Sloup-
Šošůvka Caves). At long, the viewing circuit is the longest underground trail open to the public in the Czech Republic.
Etymology
The name Macocha is derived from ''macecha'', meaning "stepmother". According to a popular
folk story, the abyss was named after an evil stepmother who married a widowed farmer from a nearby village. The farmer had a son whom she accepted until she gave birth to her own son. Knowing her child wouldn't inherit anything, she lured her stepson to the abyss and threw him into it. Once she realized what she's done, she decided to end her own life by jumping into the abyss as well. Surprisingly, her stepson survived, and was eventually saved by his father and other villagers. Another version of the story says that the stepmother did not commit suicide, but was instead thrown into the abyss after the villagers learnt what she had done to her stepson.
See also
*
Karst
Karst () is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble carbonate rocks such as limestone and Dolomite (rock), dolomite. It is characterized by features like poljes above and drainage systems with sinkholes and caves underground. Ther ...
References
External links
*
Information on ShowCaves.com
{{Authority control
Caves of the Czech Republic
Blansko District
Geography of the South Moravian Region
Sinkholes of the Czech Republic