Punkva subterranean stream

Punkva subterranean stream (Podzemní Punkva). 18/03/04; South-Moravian Region; 1,571 ha; 49°25´N 016°44'E; Protected Landscape Area; Nature Reserve; National Nature Reserve.The subterranean system belongs to the most valuable karst area in the Czech Republic, and the 'Amateur Cave' complex with 34 km of known cave passageways is its largest cave system. The site includes springs, several sinkholes, permanent and intermittent subterranean tributaries to the Punkva stream that are connected to caves. Through the sinkholes, surface streams disappear underground where they flow into the caves, some of which are permanently filled with water, with open water surfaces or flooded throughout their whole profile. The site hosts the Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus), the bats Myotis dasycneme, Myotis daubentonii, and characteristic communities of cave fauna. Several species of fauna new to science have been found, which may be either endemics or newly-described species with a wider distribution such as the springtails Onychiurus rauseri and Arrhopalites ruseki. At the surface, most of the site is forested and a small area is covered by extensively managed agricultural land. The installation of wastewater treatment plants in the areas above sinkholes, changes in agricultural practices, regulations imposed in the caves with public access and for cave research have improved site conservation. A management plan is under implementation. The site presents some archaeological and cultural values with remains of an old settlement (cave Kulna), ruins of castles (Holatejn and Blansek), and a wind mill designated as a cultural monument. Ramsar site no. 1413. Most recent RIS information: 2004.

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