bosnie 2009 gb leger

7/30/2019 Bosnie 2009 GB Leger

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F.F.E.S.S.M. FRENCH EXPEDITION REPORT 2007 - 2009

F.F.E.S.S.M. 1

FRENCH EXPEDITION IN BOSNIA2007 2009

REPORT

SUMMARY:

KLOKOT page 2

KRUSNICA page 8

ZDENA page 11

BASTASI page 15

OKO page 18

SUVAJA page 22

SANICA VRELO page 27

SANICA JEZERO page 30

THE DEAF HOLE page 32


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F.F.E.S.S.M. 2

KLOKOT

LocalizationThe spring (altitude 218 m) is captured for the water requirements of the city of Biha (+100 000 inhabitants) a few km further. Its water flow varies from 500 l/s to more than 10m 3/s.

Cave dimensionsTotal development 480mMax depth -110 m (overlooking to -120)Two parallel pits are more than -100 m depth

Historical account1986, a local diver explores the spring down to -25 and -30 m deep in two parallelgalleries, at 50 m from the entrance.

2003, Claude Touloumdjian, Herv Chauvez, Michel Guis, Laurent Tarazona dive to -54m during the FFESSM national expedition.2004, Sylvain Ruffier assisted by Claude Touloumdjian dives a pit down to -104 moverlooking to -110 m.


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2006, Jean-Pierre Stefanato, assisted by Bruno Mgessier and Claude Touloumdjiandives the main pit down to -97 m.2008, Bruno Mgessier assisted by Bruno Maitre, Clian Cayzac and ClaudeTouloumdjian dives the main pit down to -110 m.2009, members of the FFESSM national cave diving team survey the cave down to -78.

DescriptionThe current is important throughout the cave, particularly when entering the deco zonefrom -10 to -3, due to a particular rock formation that creates a venturi effect.

The rock is dark with occasional deposits of clay. Visibility varies from 4 to 6m and canbe degraded in areas of low current but cleans quickly. At the start of the main galleryan arch at -7 creates a strong current by venturi effect which complicates the deco stopsfrom -12 to -4. A stop is impossible at -3.

The gallery entrance leads to -12 in a corridor that gives access to two tunnels and achimney. The chimney has been explored up to -3 m where a surface is visible. The

gallery on the right bank, the most obvious, results at -33 in a first pit (the Ruffier pit)which section is from 3 to 5 m and descends more than 100 m.

If you swim over the pit's mouth, it continues vertically from -33 to -12 where, after aplateau at -12, it gives access to a second pit (the big shaft). This shaft, which section ismore than 5m, drops fairly rapidly to -75 in a large pot of 6 m in diameter with a bottomof white pebbles, some of which are 40 cm in diameter. The depth -110 can be reachedat 220 m from the entrance following several vertical sections. It obviously goes at leastdown to -120.

At the top of the shaft from the plateau of -12, we can go up to -4 m and swim over large

pits. The rock is still very corroded and black. Forms suggest a clear digging from thebottom that has benefited from massive fracturing which is clearly visible outside.

Returning to the corridor, the gallery left bank (the shunt) has a smaller cross sectionand offers a less monotonous progression. A first pit leads to a ledge at -30, then asteep slope leads to a low point at -42 passing in front of an opening at -35. The gallerygoes back vertically -35. Turning around we see the line through the earlier opening. Afew meters of horizontal gallery lead to a wide corridor that reaches the big shaft atabout -50 m deep. This way avoids the shallow point of -12 during dives in the big shaft.

Outside, we can see, above the concrete roof that protects the basin from falling rocks,

a cave entrance supposed to reach the spring. We checked it in 2009 and surveyed thisfossil passage that seems to lead to the reported chimney in the -12 corridor.

BiologyWe have seen some nyphargus, captured a lombric-type worm in 2006 at -12m.Capture in 2009 of polychaete worms marifugia cavatica at -30 in the side gallery.

Hydrology - KarstologyKlokot Vrelo belongs to the basin of the Una river which flows into the Sava river, atributary of the Danube. It is the one of the five biggest springs of BIH

His water comes from an infiltration of large karstic terrains on the left bank of the Unariver valley where several poljes of Croatia can be found, like Krbavsko, Prijeboj,Korenicko and also the Pljesevica mountain.


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F.F.E.S.S.M. 4

During these 40 last years, several tracer tests, in various sinkholes of the karsticpoljes, were realized and proved the connection with several strong springs of thevalley.These tracer tests of groundwater are made at an altitude between 340m and 690m andthe distance connection with Klokot, varies from 6,5 km to 23 km. The fictive watervelocity varies from 125m to 233 meters/hour.

Survey


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Photos

Photo Zeljko Mirkovi


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F.F.E.S.S.M. 7

Photo Herv Chauvez


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VRELO KRUNICA

LocalizationFrom Bosanska Krupa, you follow the road to Gudavac, then turn left where the fish farm ismentioned. With special authorization you can drive the cars on the lane after the fish farm andthen must go on by foot a few hundreds of meters until the hydro-electric factory which is

provided by the water of the spring, retained by a barrage.

Historical account

In 2001, the first reconnaissance dive, aiming at assessing the possibilities of exploration wasmade by Claude Touloumdjian with light equipment, carried from the top of the hill, after a walkof 30 mn and a difference in altitude of 100m. A siphon of 70m is crossed, surfacing on a lake ofa hundred metres long.

August 19th, 2004, using a motorboat, which avoids walking the 5km path along the riverside,Amir Sarbanovic (Una Club of Bihac) and C Touloumdjian visited the first part of the lake, where

the depth of - 20m was attained in a kind of pit. Claude felt the presence of a current at 50mfrom the entrance.

July 2006, the Czech team, with the help of a strong current, discovered the main gallery and afurther 110m of gallery.

August 2006, Jean Pierre Stefanato and Bruno Mgessier performed a reconnaissance dive onthe line put down by the Czech team and extended the terminus by 45m, at 150m from theentrance at - 16m. On their next dive, they stopped at the top of a pit at 210m from the entranceat - 36m because of their gas mix. The gallery has important dimensions which sometimesexceed 8x8m, visibility reduced to 4m making the estimation difficult. The progression wasmade along the wall on the left hand side and following west / southwest direction.

July 2007, the Czech team pushed the exploration down to the depth of -50m.


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The 1st of August 2007, Clian Cayzac and Bruno Maitre extended the terminus to 260m fromthe entrance at - 56m. The following day, August 2nd, they reached the depth of - 72m at 292mfrom the entrance, after having followed a swivel pit which orientates the gallery full East, aftera rotation of 180 .

Description of the gallery

After swimming 20 m on the surface under the vast porch (10 m from the top; 15 m deep), thecave widens in surface up to 25 m in breadth but does not continue. Under water, at 4 - 5 m, theright hand of the cave (Left Bank) widens (more than 10 m) and the depth attains - 10m.Visibility is not good (4 - 5 m at the maximum) and walls are black.Following the ceilings and going back up progressively along the wall for about 70m, the siphonends in a lake. This underground lake stretches over a hundred metres up to a narrowing whichforces you to leave the water.

Upwards, on the right side of the hole, an opening seems workable but it would be necessary toleave the water and climb.

The breadth of the lake is on average from 4 to 8 m and the height varies from 5 to 15 m. The

bottom, full of large blocks, sometimes descends for more than 5m in depth and would be worthbeing thoroughly explored. The temperature of the water is 12 .This source has a very high interest on the bio speleological plan. In the course of these 2dives, it was noted the presence of 2 different kinds of little crustaceans (isopods) under water,clinging to the walls, as well as a proteus of 20 cm long found in 2001.

Under the entrance porch, the gallery is found on the right hand side searching for the depth. Itis orientated full west. The dimensions are important (10x10m) for the first 60 metres with a lowpoint at -18m. Then the section gets smaller (5x5m), the gallery rises up to -12m and dropsdown again progressively to -22m. Large deep faults (20x20m) appear on the right side, theyare perpendicular to the gallery. 200m from the entrance, the shape of the gallery changes anda pit is reached. It drops down turning to the left following a wall at 45 . The depth is -30m at230m, -55m at 260m and -72m at 295m where the bottom is reached. About fifteen metresfurther two departures of horizontal galleries of section 3 by 3m appear. The direction is fullEast. The walls are dark with silt deposits but the water remains clear

Biology

We met some interesting animals: isopods (spheromidae), shrimps (troglocaris) and 2 proteuswhose legs seem longer and thinner than those of the ones found in Croatia or in Slovenia


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F.F.E.S.S.M. 10

Topography

Developped section

Plan


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VRELO ZDENA

Localization

This is the spring from which the town of Sanski Most (20.000 inhabitants) pumps out directly itsfresh water. The access is restricted.

Historical account

- 2003 Claude Touloumdjian localized the cave.- 2004 Claude Touloumdjian dived in the cave to 200m from the entrance at - 30m in depth.

- 2005 Claude Touloumdjian and Bruno Mgessier pushed the terminus and added 110m. Theystopped, after having gone back up 12m in a pit, in a gallery which makes an elbow at theopposite to the general direction. Strong current made progress difficult.- 2006 Jean-Pierre Stefanato and Bruno Mgessier installed a reel at the terminus. The loss of arebreather and the sudden rise of the water level interrupted the exploration campaign.- 2007 Jean-Pierre Stefanato and Bruno Mgessier pushed the terminus to 460m from the

entrance, with the reel previously installed in 2006. They reached an air bell. Due to poorvisibility and lack of current, no obvious continuation was found.Nermin Hatibovi, in charge of the SanskiMost diving club, visited the first 70m of the gallery.

Gallery description

The basin is rather shallow, 7 - 8 m long and 3 to 4 m wide. It continues underground by a smallopening (1 - 1,5 m high,1,5 - 2 m wide), that leads to a scree of small blocks coming from the


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F.F.E.S.S.M. 12

surface. At 6 - 7 m from the entrance, after an enlargement, you can find a wooden lintel in thepassage. The visibility is not great, maybe 3 to 5m.The blocks of the external basin have rolled down to - 8 m and the gallery continues withrespectable dimensions (1,50 m high, 1,5 - 2,5 m wide). It goes back up and becomes stablebetween -5 and - 6 m. The blocks are replaced by a blackish bare rock, with sometimes somerolled pebbles. Sediments can be observed on the floor and walls, as well as pieces ofconcretions.

An important current reigns in the gallery because of the narrow section. The general orientationis west during 55 m, where suddenly a change draws us towards the south-southwest, thentowards the northwest.The gallery becomes higher (3m) in the form of a diaclase. At 70m fromthe entrance, it is followed by an enlargement where the current is lost and the ceiling risesagain. It leads to an ample bell (1,5m wide, 2 - 3m high and 3 - 4m long), covered with silt andwithout an exit. Current is found coming from a hole in the floor of the gallery (2m wide, 2mhigh) at - 10m. Walls are covered with small cupules and a thin coating of sediment. The floorhas rare asperities. The elliptical conduit, whose dimensions increase (3 to 4m wide, more than2,5m high), dives straight towards the north-west direction for 110m to attain the depth of - 30m,terminus achieved in 2004.

After a brusque rise of 2m at 220m of the entrance, the gallery gets wider (5 - 7 m wide, 5 - 8 mhigh) and dives into a pit to the lowest point at - 41m, always in the same direction. Dimensionsto the right and in the top of the pit seem important. The current is followed by searching on theleft hand side. From the bottom of the pit, the gallery continues by going up with smallerdimensions (3m of diameter) and attains a curve at 265m at - 33m. Then it turns towards thesouth-west for about 20 metres. In 2 places, the ceiling rises up for a dozen metres followingfaults. At 280 m from the entrance, a wall is reached which forces to move up 15m. At theceiling (-21m), after a 180 direction change, the gallery (3m high, 2m wide) goes southeast,terminus achieved in 2005.

After 10m the gallery turns southwest and persists in the same direction during 100m until thepoint (400m, - 30m) is reached. What seems to be a hole in a wall, allows then to enter a

system of faults, whose dimensions are sometimes more than 10m high. A scree goes to thesouthwest, following the general orientation, up to a bell (4m high, 6m long and 1,5m wide) at460m from the entrance, terminus achieved in 2007.

Black rocks, lack of current and sediments which reduce the visibility (less then 3m) havejeopardized the research results.

Hydrology - Karstology

The water temperature is 10,5 - 11 C. It comes from the polj of Jelasinovici, located 200mhigher and more than 11 km from there. The main exit of the water supply is the Dabarskaspring, located under the cave of the same name. These caves, under exploration by our team,are more than 5 km from the Zdena spring.

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F.F.E.S.S.M. 13

TOPOGRAPHY

DEVELOPPED SECTION

PLAN


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F.F.E.S.S.M. 14

The ZDENA basin

JP STEFANATO and Nermin HATIBOVI


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BASTASI SPRING

Localization

Cave characteristicsTotal development 250mMax depth -71m

1 sump explored for about 250 metres and -71 metres deep.

Historical account

In August 2003, the source is identified then dived on 70m by Claude Touloumdjiandown to -14m deep. Two weeks later, Claude Touloumdjian and Herv Chauvez add


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80m of line and stop at -33m in a large pit. M. Guis and L.Tarazona progress and stopat -42m in the pit.

On the 1st of August 2004, Sylvain Ruffier, assisted by Claude Touloumdjian,progressed to -52m in the pit. On the 3rd of August, 2004, he reached the low point andbegins his progress in the deep gallery. The terminus is at about 230 meters fromentrance of the cave.

In July 2009, an English team visited the cave and reached the low point.

In August 2009, the FFESSM Cave Search and Study Team installed a new line, drewthe topography down to -61m, and discovered 30m of new cave after the 2004terminus.

DESCRIPTION

The site is frequented by tourists on weekends and by people who are picnicking in the

valley. The bravest bathe in the fountain whose water is 8 C.The basin opens at the bottom of a cool and shady valley. It is reached from the road bya short walk of about 5 minutes on a good path. The course provides beautiful viewsover the clear water of the creek from the source. It also crosses the ruins of a smallhydroelectric plant. The horizon is blocked by an imposing limestone cliffs, massivedrained by the source that suggests a large potential.

There is a small area of flat rocks and shallow water enabling material deposition,divers equipment and launching on the right side of the basin. On the left side, a rollerslide leads to the actual entrance of the cavity at the depth of -8m. The entrance isabout one metre high and located under the area of flat rocks where divers are

preparing.

The guide line starts at the entrance of the main gallery at the depth of -11m. It turns leftand makes an angle of 90 to the course followed to enter the cavity. The galleryfollows the south-west direction for about 150 meters and gradually sinks to a depth of -27m at the edge of a huge pit.

The section of this impressive gallery is estimated at 10 meters wide by 6 meters high.The walls are made of white rocks and covered with clay. The floor is covered with clayand sand. The visibility is deteriorating very fast ... In times of low water visibility is poor(3 to 4 meters). It seems that when the level is slightly higher, the visibility is better

The line installed by the French expedition in August 2009 follows the left wall (rightbank) of the large gallery and allows access to the large pit in 141 meters.Then the line dives almost vertically into the pit which gigantic section is difficult toestimate because the lights do not reach the opposite wall. It may exceed 20 meters indiameter. It would be interesting to explore the pit systematically in search of annexgalleries departures.

Below -40m, the shaft widens and continues down vertically along the line.

At -53, the line is attached to a large rock placed at the top of a sandy slope which issteeply inclined. The line continues down to the low point and the deep gallery.


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At -71, large blocks partially cover a ground made of sand and clay. The gallery is 6 to8m wide and 2 to 3 m high. It raises rapidly along a sandy slope, bounded on the rightbank by a 3m high, the 2004 French terminus. The gallery is gaining height after the lowpoint and seems to continue to rise.

Topography


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F.F.E.S.S.M. 18

OKO

2008 water level 2009 water level

Localization

The cavity is located in Krajina, close to Lusci Palanka in the Jelasinovci polje. The caveis found at the bottom of a crater that opens on a collapsed system (60m x 80m). Thesummit altitude is about 410m and the water plan altitude 365m.

Localize the cave on a map

Cavecharacteristics

Total development is 450mMaximum depth is -15m

Historical account

The cave was located by the Una Aquariusclub, lead by Zeljko Mirkovic, several yearsago.2008, in July, an English team, informed bya Bosnian diver, explores the cave up to thefirst breakdown at about 223m.2008, the 6

thof August, Bruno Mgessier,

Bruno Maitre, Clian Cayzac lead by ClaudeTouloumdjian find the passage through the

first breakdown and explore the gallery tothe second breakdown blocking completely the gallery at 398m from the entrance.


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In 2009, the French national expedition surveyed the cave and took pictures of differentspecimens of the cave animals.

Description

A massive collapsed cave system gives access to the pool from which the underwatergallery starts. The entrance leads to what seems to be a vast chamber with a ceiling

between 2m and 3m high. The main gallery is found on left hand side to the south.

The general orientation is pretty constant going S-SW. The section looks like a tunnel of6-10m wide and 2-6m high, very linear and pretty horizontal. The depth fluctuatesbetween -8 and -15 with an average around -10 for 450m of development.

Visibility is good but does not exceed 4-5m because of the murky water. Many claydeposits due to the lack of flow may deteriorate it irremediably, especially while goingthrough the portions where the ceiling has collapsed at 223m and 398m from theentrance.

3 large air bells where reached going through the rocks at 398m. The noise of watercascading can be heard in the bell on the east.

Biology

A very unique and important density and diversity of cave life is present. More than 70specimens of Proteus Anguinus, also known as Human Fish, and 6 other animalsspecies, of which certain individuals are gathered per hundreds, were observed inseveral places.

One unique specimen of Proteus had a very big size exceeding 50cm

Karstology

Oko is a cave which functions some time as a sinkhole when the polje is flooded butgenerally as a spring. The entrance is formed by the collapse of the ceiling on an

underground channel which goes to the north.In rainy season the water goes up and flows in the polje which can be flooded severalweeks. All this water takes the direction of the south-east reaching several sinkholes in


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F.F.E.S.S.M. 20

which it disappears. The water comes out from the Dabarska and Zdena springs morethan 10 Km away. These springs are still under exploration by the French team

Topography

Photography


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SUVAJA JAMA

Localization

The entrance to the cave is located near Lusci Palanka next to the pumping stationguarded by local authorities.

See cave situation on Google map

Cave dimensionsTotal development 900mEstimated elevation 20mThe main gallery ends overlooking a lake which forms the basis of a room about fortymeters high.


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F.F.E.S.S.M. 23

Historical account

Local history records several visits by citizens which would capture the Proteus afterflood periods. A team of Czechs would have recognized the terminal lake and walkedseveral kilometres through the cavity.

2009, during the summer, the FFESSM national caves research team carries thetopography of the cavity with a double decametre up to the terminal lake. ClaudeTouloumdjian, Jean-Pierre Stefanato and Michel Biesmans negotiate access to thecavity with the local authority, while Sebastien Leriche, Clement Chaput and BrunoMgessier study the cavity up to the terminus.

DescriptionSituated behind a small house, the cave entrance is just before a forest and plungesbeneath the mountain. The first 60 meters of the cavity is drained by the stream of freshair. Many blocks litter the ground. The cave probably served as a shelter during the war.Cans, dead bicycles and mopeds are lurking everywhere.

The cavity is 8m wide and 4m high. The ceiling is very flat. Once past the secondcorner, the gallery gets narrowed and the humidity increases gradually as oneprogresses towards the inside of the cave. Progress is made on an avalanche ofboulders and mud. The ceiling is becoming higher and concretions on some wallsappear. The rock is dark and the cavity becomes increasingly attractive.


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F.F.E.S.S.M. 24

Around 300m, a gap of 7m deep and 5m wide cuts the gallery. This gap has a flatbottom and ends up after 20m on a blind pit clogged by the clay. Traces of flows on thenorthwest side show that water flows from the bottom when there are floods.Exploration continues after crossing the gap with a rope.

The gallery annex is going towards the entrance of the cave (north, north-east). It is 1.5m wide and 3m high. The exploration ends after a few tens of meters, when the galleryis proving to be blocked by an impenetrable mass of rocks.

The main gallery is growing, the ceiling is very high and the gallery large, small lakesare present. Note the presence of many animals in the water. Several departures areexplored on a few meters but without result. After the small lakes, we arrive in a largedescending hall forming wide cave pools

The end of the cave offers a surprising spectacle. The gallery ends with a cascade of12m high overlooking a lake. The lake is about thirty meters long and less than tenmeters in its widest part. It forms the basis of a huge room about forty meters high. Onthe right side, in the middle of the lake, a waterfall flows from the ceiling and forms aconcretion over the height of the wall. Visibility in the water exceeds 6m but quickly

becomes turbid due to deposits on the walls.

An upper gallery (or fossilgallery) seems to appear in theheights, but it could only bereached through a delicateclimbing.


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F.F.E.S.S.M. 25

BiologySome niphargus, many monolistras and one specimen of a flat shrimp. No Proteus wereobserved.


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F.F.E.S.S.M. 26

Survey

Photographies


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F.F.E.S.S.M. 27

VRELO SANICA

Jean-Pierre STEFANATO et Bruno MEGESSIER

Historical account

- 2001, Claude Touloumdjian localized the spring.- 2003, Claude Touloumdjian explored the first 22m of the spring galleries at a depth of - 21m.- 2005, Claude Touloumdjian and Bruno Mgessier checked the spring which was not diveable.- 2006, Claude Touloumdjian and Bruno Mgessier checked the spring which was not diveable.- 2007, Jean-Pierre Stefanato and Bruno Mgessier pushed the terminus to 200m from theentrance. At 47m they stopped on a narrow fissure, the continuation can be seen 6m lower.

The estimated water flow was around 200 l/s.

Description of the gallery

The entrance consists of a porch whose dimensions are 2m wide and 4m high. The cave partdevelops 3m above the pumping installation.The access to the underwater gallery is found on the left hand side at - 3m. It leads to a vertical pit,in bare rock, that goes straight to - 24m. The section does not exceed 1,5m x 2m. Starting from27m from the entrance, the gallery goes South with an average depth of - 25m. At 85m from theentrance, the orientation suddenly changes to the East for 20m, until the top of a pit is reached.The pit starts from - 27m and goes down vertically to - 33m. Then the gallery goes back upprogressively following the south orientation up to the depth of - 27m at 135m from the entrance.A new step goes down to - 34m at 144m from the entrance. The gallery continues southward withan average depth of - 35m until 180m from the entrance where it veers full west. Dimensions are


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3m broad by 1m high. A new pit leads, after 10m, to a fissure (0,80m wide for 5m long) whosesummit is located at 190m from the entrance at - 47m.

Biology

In the course of our dives a proteus has been seen as well as several niphargus

Karstology - Hydrology

The spring emerges from grey, hard and corroded stone. Temperature of water is 9C.

The hydrographic basin stretches for 15km and includes several poljes where the town of BosanskiPetrovac is located, 500 to 600m below. Sanica Vrelo is the lower exit of the river which has twoother emergence points which function as over-flow:- Varda whose exploration is impossible because of a huge scree which blocks its entrance.- Jezero, vast tunnel (25m x 25m) that we descend in low-water until a lake (10m x 15m) whoselevel is a dozen metres below the top of the entrance

The 7th of August 2006, after heavy rains, the water flow was estimated at 2 or 3 m3/ second and

the total flow, with Varda and Jezero, gives a large river with more than 20m3/second.

* * *

TOPOGRAPHYDEVELOPPED SECTION


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TOPOGRAPHY

PLAN


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SANICA JEZERO

Localization

Coming from the Sanica source, you must follow the bed of the River Sanica 800 m to reach a30 m in diameter depression dominated by more than 40 m high cliff. Fifteen meters below thepool has a diameter of 20 m.

History

-2003, Claude Touloumdjian locates the source.-2004, Claude Touloumdjian dives, without visibility down to -12 m with 4-litre bottle.-2007, Jean-Pierre Stefanato helped by Claude Touloumdjian and Bruno Mgessier makes arecognition dive. He stops at 31 m deep after unreeling 47 m of line from the surface of the pool.

Description of the cavity

The crater of 30 m in diameter is dominated by a twenty-meter cliff. 15 meters below the water

surface is 20 m in diameter. They are accessed by a stand-down on a talus slope. The watersurface is characterized by aggressive presence of numerous crayfish. The bottom of the pool(vertical line) is reached at 20 m deep. The cave bottom is a gravel slope congested of trunks oftrees and various objects (tractor tire, pan...). Visibility is about 1,50 m and does not allow toestimate the dimensions of the gallery which seems yet comfortable. We stopped theexploration to -31 for a length of line of 47 m since the vertical of the pool.

Biology

Many crayfish met during the dive.

Karst - hydrology


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The usptream basin extends 15 km and includes several poljs where is located the town ofPetrovac Bosanska and whose permanent water output is the source of Sania.Jezero (Lake) is a high water overflow, in which is inserted the other flood overflow of Gore(Bobica Glavica) 700 m to the South-South-East. This one is impenetrable due to the presenceof a huge big boulders talus. In periods of mid-level waters, more or less important streamsappear along the thalwegs that lead to these outputs. On high water levels they must come intoaction. Impressive floods should greatly exceed that of 7 August 2006 which should be more

than 20 m

3

/second. They must establish the "Jezero" to evacuate the surplus water from thenarrow Sanica Source. The junction between the 2 caves can be envisaged if the morphologyand the karst context make it possible.

TopographySECTION


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F.F.E.S.S.M. 32

THE DEAF HOLE

LocalizationGPS Coordinates : 16 13 19, 44 33 56

Cave characteristicsTotal Development 110mEstimated elevation - 100mThe cave consists of a vertical shaft of 90m high which ends on a talus formed by debrisfrom the surface. A gallery is explored without success because clogged by the clay.

Historical accountThe pit is known to neighbourhood residents who have called it "the hole deaf"for no sound came back when an object is launched. The landowner says noexploration has been carried out.

2009, during summer, the FFESSM Caves Study and Research Team performsa descent on ropes down the shaft.

DescriptionThe pit is located on a mountainous plateau south of the town of Bihac, at theentrance of a wood.


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The summit cone collapse is twenty meters long and eight meters wide. Its baseis formed with an opening of 8m long and 2m wide, the edges are covered withdirt which makes impossible the installation of mooring

At about 12m from the surface, a block wedged between the walls provides a

curb. Once past the -12, the cavity enlarges (12m long by 4m wide) and there isvery pretty concretions. The rock is very dark and strong enough to plant SPIT.

Several blocks, probably dropped from the surface, are trapped between thewalls throughout the descent.

At -50, we see the top of a circular pit of about 5m in diameter and very smoothwalls.

At -80, the descent ends on top of a talus made of stones and clay. The cavity is

15m long and 6m wide.

The slope goes down the side of the circular pit and reaches -100 on a pile ofclay pebbles. There is a carcass of a wolf at the bottom.

On the other side, the slope goes down until it reaches the start of a smallgallery. This gallery is decorated with concretions and ends with a plug of clay at-100. There are small traces of water flow at the end in the clay.

Topography


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Photography

bosnie 2009 gb leger

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