Large canyons in Dinaric and Prokletije mountains region of Montenegro

Predrag Djurovic,Aleksandar Petrovic

doi:10.5937/geopan0711014d

Abstract

Montenegro occupies relatively small, southeastern part of the Dinaric mountains. Geological composition, which is predominantly carbonate, enabled formation of a great number of deep canyons and gorges. Canyons of Montenegro were formed in several ways, during multiple phases. Regardless of polygenetic and polymorphic character of the canyons, they can be classified into three main groups. By incision of melt-water rivers of Pleistocene glaciers, deep and particularly narrow canyons of small width were formed. The rivers that presently flow through these canyons have a nival regime - during the summer, their discharge is minimal, or they completely dry out. Depths of these canyons are up to 500 m. Rivers that directly feed into the Adriatic sea are of torrential character. They have pluvial regime, and dry out during the summer. Their canyons are short, several hundreds of meters deep. Deepest and longest canyons have been formed by incision of rivers that have changed their regimes during a longer period of time. Melt-water of Pleistocene glaciers has incised the greatest parts of canyons at the beginning of Holocene. Presently, river courses have nival-pluvial regime. In this group, single-phase and multiple-phase canyons can be distinguished (alteration of erosional and accumulation processes). Depths of these canyons exceed 1000 m.

Highlights

Dinaric Mountains occupy considerable part of Montenegro
In south-western part of the country, the Dinaric Mountains rise from the sealevel and make a range of coastal mountains (Orjen, Lovćen, Rumija, etc.)
During the interglacial phases of the Pleistocene, the water accumulated in glaciers was quickly melting, which resulted in multiple increases in discharges

Summary

Introduction

Dinaric Mountains occupy considerable part of Montenegro. This mountain system extends from north-western to south-eastern part of the country, where it turns to mountains of Prokletije system (Fig. 1). Big canyons of cur in isolated patches, and are represented the Dinaric and Prokletije mountains are by clastic, metamorphic and igneous rocks parts of valley systems in the basins of the (Bešić, 1969) Large areas of limestone determined recent upthrows of 2, 4 and tities of water were accumulated as glaciers of considerable thickness and purity en- more millimeters per year (Fig.). Large areas of limestone determined recent upthrows of 2, 4 and tities of water were accumulated as glaciers of considerable thickness and purity en- more millimeters per year (Fig.5) During the interglacial phases of the Pleistocene, the water accumulated in glaciers was quickly melting, which resulted in multiple increases in discharges In this period, the river courses were fed both by meltwater and rain. The precipitation decreases, the yearly averages are still high – about 2000 mm (Fig. 3)

25 Kanjon Grlje

Canyons formed by river courses with glacial-nival regime