Natural Bridges on the Vratna River (Eastern Serbia) as the Last Remnants of a Former Cave

Abstract

Reka Vratna, ki ima porecje na zahodnem robu dacanske kotline, je desni pritok Donave. Od skupaj 22 km dolgega toka tece v dolžini 3,5 km skozi sotesko, vrezano v titonijske apnence. Preko soteske se pnejo 3 naravni mostovi, ki skupaj pokrivajo 94 m recnega toka. Zelo verjetno sta 2 od teh mostov ostanek nekdanjega jamskega stropa. Zaradi denudacijskih procesov in porusenega ravnotežja se je skoraj ves jamski strop udrl, razen dveh delov. V soteski je tudi nekaj kratkih jam in spodmolov. Najdaljsa jama (305 m) je ravno za najvecjim od mostov. The Vratna River is a right-side tributary of the Danube and its drainage area is situated at the western rim of the Dacian Basin. Along its 22 km long course, the Vratna flows through a 3,5 km long gorge cut in Tithonian limestones. Across the gorge there are three natural bridges, which shelter, in total 94 metres of the river course. There is a strong assumption that two of the natural bridges are the only remaining parts of roof of a former cave. Due to the process of surface denudation and to the disruption of stability, the cave roof almost completely collapsed, with the exception of these two sections. Several short caves and rock shelters exist in the gorge, and the longest cave (305 m) is situated next to the biggest of the three natural bridges.