The Karst phenomenon, both superficial and underground, is without a doubt one of the major attractions of the Prealpi Giulie Nature Park.
Mount Canin, with its complex hypogeous of Col delle Erbe and Foran del Muss, the Musi mountain range with hundreds of chambers and the Resia valley with the Fontanon del Barman and other Karst resurgences are the three main fields of action for mainly regional speleological associations in their intense research activities.
In fact almost forty years of exploration has lead to the discovery of around a thousand caves. Each year numerous potholing groups, both from the Region, rest of Italy and abroad, carry out intense explorations that lead to new discoveries and interesting scientific research.
The main chambers situated within the Park’s territory are the Floran del Muss Complex (over 15 km of development, 880 m drop, around 20 openings). Numerous other abysses over 500 metres in depth open onto the Mount Canin massif making it one of the most important Karst areas of Europe. The Musi Mountain range, that was discovered in the 90’s, houses over 200 chambers, mainly vertical, the most important of which is almost 500 m in depth. Whereas in the Resia valley area, near the imposing Fontanon di Barman there are some small horizontal chambers (Grotta di Barman, Grotta dell’Uragano). The spectacular Fontanon di Goriuda, in the Raccolana Valley, should also be remembered being the main source of the Mount Canin plateau’s water.
Apart from the caves of Mount Canin and the Resia Valley, all others should be defined as “high mountain caves” having well openings. Owing to the technical difficulties and morphological characteristics, visits to most caves are reserved to expert speleologists with appropriate equipment. Moreover speleological activities are governed by an appropriate article of the Park regulations (art. 10, comma 10).
However, there is the New Cave of Villanova for tourists that – even though situated outside the boundaries of the Park, falls within the tourist paths. Around 7 km long, and 300 metres drop, this cave is one of the few in Italy to be formed from the contact between calcium and flysch. For additional information: Cave Terminal tel. 0432 787020
Volume 6 (Caves and speleology) of the guide to the Prealpi Giulie Nature Park contains more information.