The world's deepest subterranean vertical drop found in Croatia

Cave explorers find deepest subterranean drop
August 10, 2004

Cave explorers have discovered a pit inside a mountain range in central Croatia believed to have the world's deepest subterranean vertical drop, at over 500 metres.

The cave, in Croatia's mountainous Velebit region, has a steady, weaving drop of 62 metres before it takes a direct vertical plunge of 516 metres through the ground, said Ana Sutlovic Baksic, a researcher at the Velebit Speleological Society.

The cave's widest stretch is about 30 metres.

"We have even bigger caves in Croatia, but according to available data, this cave has the world's deepest vertical drop," Sutlovic Baksic said.

At the foot of the Velebit cave are small ponds and streams, including one of the largest known colonies of subterranean leeches, Sutlovic Baksic said.

It is located in the Rozanski Hip National Park reserve in the rocky Velebit mountain range in central Croatia. The pit was discovered by a team of explorers from around the country.

The Voronya Cave in Georgia's West Caucasus has the world's deepest cavern, measuring 1710 metres. But the pit discovered in Croatia is thought to have the largest underground vertical drop.

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Croatia, which is rich in natural wonders, is home to two of the world's 20 deepest caves.

The Velebit region is Croatia's largest mountain range, attracting speleologists, botanists and hikers from around the world.

Much of the rugged area remains untouched, and scientific expeditions over its vast expanse covered by rare flora and fauna have been ongoing for years.

AP

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/09/1092022411252.html?oneclick=true