Large canyons in Dinaric and Prokletije mountains region of Montenegro

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 metres 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.

The glacial history of the Dinaric Alps, Montenegro

“…In contrast, for the largest Middle Pleistocene glaciation (MIS 12) reconstructed ELAs may overestimate 'real' ELAs by 60e240 m. However, providing accurate corrections for Pleistocene ELAs taking into account uplift and sea level change in the Balkans is difficult because of the locallycomplex tectonics of this area. For example, most of Montenegro is currently experiencing uplift (up to 4 mm per year in some places) although exceptions include the area around the Boka Kotorska near Mount Orjen which is undergoing subsidence (Djurovi c and Petrovi c, 2007). To compound the problem of estimating Pleistocene uplift rates there is the problem of subsidence caused by isostatic loading by the large ice masses themselves.…”

Review of the most significant caves in Montenegro

“…Most of plateaus occur at high mountain relief environments, between 700 and 1,450 m a.s.l. All are intensively karstified and some are cut by canyons whose depth commonly exceeds 1,000 m (Djurović & Petrović 2007), supporting a vertical migration of water in karst.…”

“…Canyons and gorges in karst plateau were incised by large allogenic rivers (Tara, Piva, Morača, Lim etc.) (Djurović & Lješević 1994;Djurović & Petrović 2007) that carried water in amounts large enough to incise limestone masses but to remain as surface flows due to impermeable basement. The main direction of flows and groundwater pathways in this part of Montenegro has been driven by the deeply incised canyons.…”

A Reconstruction of the Pleistocene Glacial Maximum in the Žijovo Range (Prokletije Mountains, Montenegro)

“…These canyon valleys were formed by the action of rivers with a glacio-nival regime (Djurovic & Petrovic 2007). They are located in the Verusa and Brskut valleys and on the Kuci Plateau.…”