Abstract
Neotectonic movements often result in marked large-scale asymmetry of river valleys. The characteristically rectangular (“chequerboard”) drainage pattern of Southern Trandanubia has provoked discussions among Hungarian geologists and geomorphologists for more than a century. In the centre of this area is the Kapos River valley, the asymmetry of which is obvious to any visitor. Although this asymmetry has been undoubtedly controlled by neotectonic movements to a large extent, it is probably also enhanced by geomorphic processes. The degree and distribution of asymmetry is quantified using different morphometric indices calculated from a Digital Elevation Model. An overview of the tectonic models proposed to identify the reasons behind asymmetry in the study area is also presented. It is pointed out that the asymmetry is associated with the alignment of two tectonic lines crossing the catchment and also manifested in the planform of the valley floor (i.e. in the shape of the morphological floodplain).
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Acknowledgment
Authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided for their investigations by the Hungarian National Scientific Research Foundation (OTKA, contract no: T 68903) between 2007 and 2011.
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Lóczy, D., Pirkhoffer, E., Gyenizse, P. (2015). Kapos Valley: The Most Asymmetrical in Hungary. In: Lóczy, D. (eds) Landscapes and Landforms of Hungary. World Geomorphological Landscapes. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08997-3_13
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