Nature » Geology

Karstic Morphology

Karstic formations, originating from the slow dissolving action of water (slightly acid for the presence of carbon dioxide) on the calcareous and dolomitic rocks, contribute to characterize and make precious some of the most charming environments of the Park with a great environmental value. Big-size karstic formations are the glacial-karst basins, where the karstic morphology generally forms on pre-existing glacial formations and is corroded by disintegration processes (Circhi delle Vette, Van de Zità). The Erera - Piani Eterni plateau represents the most important karstic formation for the variety and density of its karstic typologies, since it is characterized by large rocky surfaces at altitudes ranging from 1,700 to 1,900 m, on which the karstic morphogenesis often finds ideal conditions to develop (structural and cirque plateau karstic phenomena). Systematic research and exploration activities carried out by speleologists have given the opportunity to discover over 200 cavities. The deepest abyss (PE 10) has been explored down to the depth of - 966 meters. Moreover, four cavities are connected one with the other and form a hypogean system with a planimetric development of almost 10 kilometers.