The Moravian Karst is the most remarkable karst area in the Czech territory. Limestone rocks from the Devonian period (350 million years) have developed north of Brno, on a belt approximately 25 km long and 3 to 6 km wide.You can find a plethora of unique living and non-living natural phenomena here, as well as a wealth of archaeological, palaeontological and cultural historic monuments.The area contains more than 1100 registered caves. Stretching over a distance of 35 kilometres, the Amateur Cave (Amatérská jeskyně) is the largest local system. The Imperial Cave (Císařská jeskyně) is used as a speleo-therapeutic sanatorium focusing on the treatment of the upper air passages.The magnificent limestone world of the Moravian Karst owes its existence to the activities of a number of watercourses.The small River Punkva is not the only watercourse which disappears into the earth. The waters of the Jedovnice Stream leave the surface in the huge Rudice subsidence, while the Hostěnice Stream and the Říčka disappear inthe spaces of the Ochoz Cave. Many of the local caves have been shaped by the Sloup and Křtiny streams. There are numerous ground karst formations in the form of canyons and karst pits. Hikers most often direct their steps to the Pustý and Suchý grooves where they can make use of a small road train and cabin cableway to get to a different place. Offering a hotel, information centre and a booking office selling entrance tickets to the caves, Skalní Mlýn is a junction of hiking and cycling trails.
Next fotos (10)