Solkota Cave Natural Monument

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]

Solkota Cave Natural Monument
IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)
Nearest cityTskaltubo
Coordinates42°23′22.4″N 42°37′03.5″E
Area0.0 km2 (0 sq mi)
Established2011
Governing bodyAgency of Protected Areas
Websiteსოლკოტას მღვიმის ბუნების ძეგლი

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 a 8 m high stalagmite with the circumference of 8.5 m at it bottom and 4.5 m in the middle.

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
  1. Solkota Cave in Georgia Protected Planet
  2. (in Georgian) სოლკოტას მღვიმის ბუნების ძეგლი
  3. Barjadze, Sh., Arabuli, T., Mumladze, L., Maghradze, E., Asanidze, Z., Kutalia T. Solkota Cave 2019, Cave Biodiversity of Georgia, Open Access Database. Institute of Zoology at Ilia State University
  4. Stahlschmidt, M.C., Collin, T.C., Fernandes, D.M. et al. Ancient Mammalian and Plant DNA from Late Quaternary Stalagmite Layers at Solkota Cave, Georgia. Sci Rep 9, 6628 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-43147-0
  5. (in Georgian) ბუნების ძეგლი სოლკოტას მღვიმის ბუნების ძეგლი - წყალტუბო
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