Nature monument "Panjica river gorge": Area of exceptional geomorphological and hydrological values

Abstract

The gorge valley of Panjica river, in the part where there is Vodena pećina cave with a strong Karst spring, as well as a tufa accumulation with two attractive waterfalls, has been proposed for designation as a nature monument of geomorphological-hydrological character under the name "Nature Monument Panjica river gorge". The conserved natural phenomena are represented by abundance of surface and underground Karst forms, a gorge that in some segments has elements of a canyon valley with vertical valley sides, up to several tens of meters high, rich tufa deposits, waterfalls, a series of small overfalls, overflows, rimstone pools and cascades, and the caves Vodena and Rasovačka (Hajdučka). The area is also special in terms of important species and ecosystem diversity, above all 85 species of birds, of which 67 are breeding birds, and 72 species have the status of strictly protected, of which 16 species are on Annex I of the Birds Directive. All of the above makes this area unique and undoubtedly worth of its status.

Keywords

• panjica
• vodena pećina cave
• tufa accumulation
• waterfall
• nature monument
• protected area
• arilje