During the 16th international speleological and scientific research expedition “Ponor Kovači – Source of Ričine 2025.” speleologists from five countries discovered more than 40 new underground objects.
The expedition, which took place from July 12 to 19 under the organization of the Speleological Society “Mijatovi dvori” from Tomislavgrad, was divided into a speleological and scientific research part.
21 speleologists from BiH, Croatia, Bulgaria, Turkey and England stayed in the camp “Srce Čvrsnica”, at an altitude of 1810 meters.
According to the Speleological Society of Mijatovi dvori, 19 speleological objects were explored, mostly pits, and over 40 new speleological objects were discovered through reconnaissance.
In addition, a little less than two kilometers of underground channels, never explored before, were explored, with the fact that three pits are deeper than 100 meters.
“The brightest star of this year’s expedition is the Radetzky cave, which was discovered by a team of experienced speleologists from Bulgaria. It is 126 meters deep, and so far more than 400 meters of channels have been explored in it, making it the longest speleological object on Čvrsnica. The cave still hides many unexplored passages and spaces that have yet to be explored,” said the mentioned society.
In addition to its fantastic underground, Čvrsnica enchanted the researchers on this year’s expedition with its geological, geomorphological and biological diversity.
During the expedition, the scientific team investigated the geological and hydrological foundations, microclimate and ecology and biodiversity of 8 caves and pits, 9 karst springs and several selected outdoor habitats.
Systematic analysis of the researched locations included sediment sampling, plankton fractions of aquatic ecosystems, and detailed photo-documentation. Research was primarily conducted in the area of Čvrsnica, but also in the wider area of Bukovica, Roški polje and Šuica.
“The local experts of the area provided us with exceptional help, for which we thank them on this occasion as well. The obtained data, biological material and photo documentation are the subject of further detailed research, especially genetic and taxonomic, from which we expect extremely valuable data and knowledge, as well as new endemic species for science”, emphasized the Speleological Society “Mijatovi dvori”.
