Main karst and caves of Switzerland
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21701/bolgeomin.127.1.003Keywords:
caves, Hölloch, karst, Siebenhengste, SwitzerlandAbstract
This paper presents an overview of the main karst areas and cave systems in Switzerland. The first part encloses descriptions of the main geological units that hold karst and caves in the country and summarizes a brief history of research and protection of the cave environments. The second part presents three regions enclosing large cave systems. Two regions in the Alps enclose some of the largest limestone caves in Europe: Siebenhengste (Siebenhengste cave system with ~160 km and Bärenschacht with 70 km) and Bödmeren-Silberen (Hölloch cave system with 200 km and Silberen System with 39 km). These systems are also among the deepest with depths ranging between 880 and 1 340 m. The third example is from the Jura Mountains (northern Switzerland).
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