Ears of Istria EarthCache
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E a r s o f I s t r i
a
The Walls of Kraski Rob –
Veli Badin
The karstic plateau of Slovenia gradually descends from the
southeast to the southwest.
On average it lies 334 metres above sea level. Its western edge,
known as Kraški Rob, is a continuation of the Ucka mountain
range in eastern Istria.
Karst edge is a limestone step with some tracks of marl
limestone and indicates the region where the karstic plateau with
steep, tectonically repeatedly broken edge, turns from limestone to
flysh , which is then forming the central part of Istria. It
presents the geological, geomorphological and climatic
boundary.
digital model of the relief (Veli
Badin)
The walls are constructed of limestone from upper
Palaeocene and lower Eocene.
At this time Slovenia was covered by Tethys Ocean.
With the death of many organisms that have lived protected by their
calcite or aragonite shells,
a sediment made of their shell remains was accumulated on the warm,
spacious sea bottom.
Pressed by the weight of the thick sediment, water was gradually
forced out from the pores, and the shells and shell fragments were
been cemented together by calcite. Thus the former loose sediment,
throughout millions of years, has transformed into a solid rock
that is called limestone.
After the water was gone away the limestone got exposed to
atmospheric processes causing karstification – melting,
abrasion and erosion which have been continuously forming ever
since. Because of the detached lay the walls exposed to the weather
and so mainly by the chemical action of water, partly due to
physical weathering.
Rock shelters of the Karst ridge of Veli Badin are a great
natural sight of Slovenia.
Local people have named this rock shelters with 'Ears of Istria'.
This place is away from the tourist routes and just a few people
know that beside rock walls there is also XXXXXXXX.
The main feature of the 28m high Karst ridge of Veli Badin are
three huge rock shelters which are 17 m high and the widest one is
about 90 m wide. The lenght of the karst ridge from XXXXXXXX
(altitude 234 m) to Sv. Kirik church (altitude 407 m) is about 2
km. There are additional rock shelters but not so huge are the
three mentioned ones.
Rock shelters have a cave morphology with some cave features.
Rock shelters form because a rock stratum (limestone) that is
resistant to erosion and weathering has formed a cliff or bluff,
but a softer stratum, more subject to erosion and weathering
(marl), lies just below the resistant stratum, and thus undercuts
the cliff.
With the inclusion into the Natura 2000 network the Karst
Edge will gain international importance and recognition, which can
represent a significant step toward local development.
Given the unique natural phenomena, numerous preserved plant and
animal species and their habitats, which are very rare within the
entire European area, the Karst Edge can be classified among the
most significant natural environments in Slovenia.
Here you will find 1688 species, many of them endangered.
To log this earthcache please send the answers of the
following questions to my account and upload a picture of you or
your gps around the listed coords! (no spoiler please)
What natural phenomenon are you able to see on N45°27.249
E13°55.458 ?
Estimate the dimensions !
In one of these shelters you will discover (from distance please)
typical
distinctive Karstic formations. What’s it
about?
Important Note: Climbing is not permitted
at this walls & don’t ignore the signs!
Thanks for visiting. Hopefully you stay was
enjoyable.
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