The Macocha Abyss (), also known as the Macocha Gorge, is a

sinkhole A sinkhole is a depression or hole in the ground caused by some form of collapse of the surface layer. The term is sometimes used to refer to doline, enclosed depressions that are also known as shakeholes, and to openings where surface water ...

in the

Moravian Karst The Moravian Karst () is a karst landscape and protected landscape area to the north of Brno in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It encompasses a number of notable geological features, including roughly 1100 caverns and gorges an ...

cave system of the

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...

. The sinkhole is deep, which makes it the deepest of its kind (light hole type) in

Central Europe Central Europe is a geographical region of Europe between Eastern Europe, Eastern, Southern Europe, Southern, Western Europe, Western and Northern Europe, Northern Europe. Central Europe is known for its cultural diversity; however, countries in ...

. It is a popular

tourist attraction A tourist attraction is a place of interest that tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, offering leisure and amusement. Types Places of natural beaut ...

for casual visitors to the region, in addition to

caver Caving, also known as spelunking (United States and Canada) and potholing (United Kingdom and Ireland), is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems (as distinguished from show caves). In contrast, speleology is the scientific ...

s and advanced technical divers.

Location

Macocha Abyss is located in the Vilémovice municipality in the

South Moravian Region The South Moravian Region (; , ; ), or just South Moravia, is an Regions of the Czech Republic, administrative unit () of the Czech Republic, located in the south-western part of its historical region of Moravia. The region's capital is Brno, th ...

, north of the city of

Brno Brno ( , ; ) is a Statutory city (Czech Republic), city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Located at the confluence of the Svitava (river), Svitava and Svratka (river), Svratka rivers, Brno has about 403,000 inhabitants, making ...

. It is part of the

Punkva Caves The Punkva Caves (Czech: ''Punkevní jeskyně'') are a cave system of the Czech Republic located north of the city of Brno, near the town of Blansko. The Punkva River flows through it. Part of it is the Macocha Abyss, its sinkhole is about 138.7 ...

and the Punkva River flows through it.

Description

The abyss is long and wide. It is deep to the surface of Dolní Lake. Below the surface of Dolní Lake are other underground spaces, so far explored to a total depth of . The dimensions of the abyss allow for its overall daylight and therefore it is classified in the "light hole" abyss category. At the beginning of the Pustý Žleb (Desolate Canyon), below the town of Sloup, the waters of the Sloupský Brook (one of the tributaries of the subterranean river Punkva) helped to form an extensive system of underground passages, domes and abysses. This system, measuring approximately , is known as the Sloupsko-šošůvské jeskyně (Sloup- Šošůvka Caves). At long, the viewing circuit is the longest underground trail open to the public in the Czech Republic.

Etymology

The name Macocha is derived from ''macecha'', meaning "stepmother". According to a popular folk story, the abyss was named after an evil stepmother who married a widowed farmer from a nearby village. The farmer had a son whom she accepted until she gave birth to her own son. Knowing her child wouldn't inherit anything, she lured her stepson to the abyss and threw him into it. Once she realized what she's done, she decided to end her own life by jumping into the abyss as well. Surprisingly, her stepson survived, and was eventually saved by his father and other villagers. Another version of the story says that the stepmother did not commit suicide, but was instead thrown into the abyss after the villagers learnt what she had done to her stepson.

References

External links

*
Information on ShowCaves.com
{{Authority control Caves of the Czech Republic Blansko District Geography of the South Moravian Region Sinkholes of the Czech Republic

Location

Description

Etymology

See also

References

External links