Caverns Found and Explored During Construction Work in the Dinaric Karst of Croatia

Abstract

The uniqueness of Croatian Karst is in the large number of explored caverns discovered subsequently during construction works. During the construction of hydraulic structures, dams, tunnels, roads, railways, bridges, viaducts, quarries, ports, warehouses, airports, etc. in Croatian Karst, over 1,200 caverns were explored in detail. Some of them are about 10 km long, and some are 450 m deep. All of them were rehabilitated, and special attention was paid to the protection of groundwater in their vicinity. In some caverns, special constructions were built, such as bridges or pumping stations for water supply. Engineers and construction workers showed that large water accumulation projects can be completed even in permeable conditions of Dinaric Karst.