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Solkota Cave Natural Monument
Karst cave in Imereti region of Georgia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Solkota Cave Natural Monument (Georgian: სოლკოტას მღვიმე) is a karst cave 2.3 km to the north of village Kumistavi, known for nearby Prometheus Cave Natural Monument, in Tskaltubo Municipality in Imereti region of Georgia.[1] Cave is located on the left bank of river Semi, 379 meters above sea level.[2]
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Morphology
Solkota Cave formed in Sataphlia-Tskaltubo karst massif.[3] Cave entrance is at the bottom of a well in a karst topography covered by vegetation. From here steep corridor expands to 10-15 m and morphs into horizontal floor that leads to a chamber with height of almost 30 m. Cave has an interesting diversity of chemical sediments, stalactites and stalagmites. Of particular interest are stalactites of 5 m thickness, size which is rare in Europe. Also notable is an 8 m high stalagmite with the circumference of 8.5 m at it bottom and 4.5 m in the middle.
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Fauna
The inhabitants of the cave include Trachysphaera, Colchidoniscus, Laemostenus, Arrhopalites, Pygmarrhopalites, Plutomurus and Oxychilus.[3]
Paleontological findings
The cave is a paleontological and in particular a molecular paleontology monument. Solkota Cave stalagmites preserved ancient DNA molecules of mammals (bear, roe deer, bats) and plants (chestnut, hazelnut, flax).[4] Bones of cave bear has been found here.[5]
See also
References
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