The Dinaric karst covers the better part of Bosnia & Herzegovina, and is extremely abundant in various underground habitats, with a plethora of species, many of them endemic. These highly biodiverse subterranean cave ecosystems offer many opportunities for exploration and sighseeing. There are many caves in the country but the ones most worth visiting are:
- Vjetrenica Cave, which means “wind cave” is the largest and most important cave in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and one of the most important caves in the Dinaric Alps mountain range, which is famous worldwide for its karstic and speleological riches. Vjetrenica Cave was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in July of 2024. It is located in the Popovo field in Ravno, The cave has been explored and described to a total of about 6.1km in length; with the main chamber 2.47km long. Its unique features and cool breezes were known even to the ancient Greeks. Remains of a prehistoric cave bear and a leopard species were found here, and more than 200 other life forms still thrive.
- Badanj Cave is famous for its cave paintings dating between 12,000 – 16,000 BCE
- Dabarska Cave is located near the source of the river and is under protection as a natural monument. It is famous for the native Proteus anguinus (Olm)
- Hrustovačka Cave – there are only speculations about real depth of this cave. It is certain that the cave is divided into two halls which are joined again at the known entrance. Expeditions have found two lakes so far, at a walking distance of 2,5 to 4,5 hours. Cave is only partially explored and the deepest surveys were terminated at 150 m
- Bijambare Caves – there are five caves on three levels. The main cave is quite large, and its length is 420 m. The cave is rich in cave forms of jewelry such as stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, basins, side poles and the like
Caves…
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