Jama u Predolcu

Predolac Cave

Useful Information

Location:	Dubrovačka ul., 20350, Metković. (43.046304, 17.658494)
Open:	closed. [2022]
Fee:	closed. [2022]
Classification:	Karst cave
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	L=56 m, VR=15 m.
Guided tours:
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Jama u Predolcu, Dubrovačka ul., 20350, Metković, Tel: +385-98-174-4999. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1965	first explored by Slovenian speleologists.
1993-1995	explored by employees of the Croatian Museum of Natural History in Zagreb as part of the project "Biospeleological and speleological research of the lower Neretva River".
2019	cave closed.

Description

Jama u Predolcu (Predolac Cave) is famous for its diversity of water fauna. The cave contains a large sweet water lake. The Dinaric cave shellfish Congeria kusceri is a living fossil and endemic for the Dinaric area, the last representative of Congeria, all others went extinct 5 Million years ago. The cave is well-developed with trails and electric light, unfortunately it is currently closed.

The cave is a resurgence and located only 11 m asl. The coastal plain in front of the cave entrance is the estuary of Neretva river. It is only 2 to 4 m asl. Jama u Predolcu is the outflow of the karst groundwater and thus partly underwater and below sea level. That's the reason why the fact that it contains sweet water is so important. There is always the possibility of salt water flowing back into the submerged karst. Especially if the karst water is used for drinking water supply.

The cave was developed by the owner, Markica Vuica, who also created an educational center Congeria at the cave entrance. So this cave is actually not intended as a tourist site, it's for people interested in caves and the endemic troglobionts living in them. Unfortunately there is a problem when sites are managed by a single person, which is not backed by a non-profit organisation. If this person retires or simply gets ill, the site closes. This cave is currently closed, and we assume because of personal reasons.