Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Cave and Karst Systems of Romania pp 93–103Cite as

Karst of Sebes Mountains

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 658 Accesses

Part of the book series: Cave and Karst Systems of the World ((CAKASYWO))

Abstract

Șura Mare Cave with its enormous entrance and 11,694 m of passages is the tenth longest cave in Romania and the fourth one with respect to its vertical range (+425 m). The karst system penetrated vertically and horizontally the entire sequence of limestone deposits of the Ponorici Cioclovina-Ohaba Ponor Plateau. Șura Mare Cave is known for its long underground stream, spectacular domes, and large well-decorated chambers. Dye studies performed in the early eighties prove the connection with Dosul Lăcșorului and Fundătura Hobenilor shafts, making this karst system one of the most important in Romania.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aldica G, Ponta G (2009) Peștera Șura Mare - Jurnalul turelor, bilanțul realizărilor. In: Dumitru R (ed) Focul Viu 40 de ani de speologie. Ed RAO, București, pp 99–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandrabur G, Bandrabur R (2010) Sebeș Mountains. In: Orășeanu I, Iurkiewicz A (eds) Karst hydrogeology of Romania. Belvedere, Oradea, pp 77–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Bleahu M, Decu V, Negrea Ş, Pleşa C, Povară I, Viehmann I (1976) Peşteri din România. Ed Ştiinţifică şi Enciclopedică, Bucureşti, p 415

    Google Scholar 

  • Chachula O, Bondar V (2003) Șura Mare - Present și perspective. Nota 1. Ecocarst 4:19–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Dumitrescu M, Orghidan N, Orghidan T, Tanasachi J, Pușcariu V, Avram Ș (1967) Contribuții la studiul peşterilor din județul Hunedoara. Lucr Inst Speol “Emil Racoviță” VI:9–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Giurgiu V (1976) Peșteri din Romania mai lungi de 2 km. Caietul Cerc Speol Emil Racoviță 4:9–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeannel R, Racovitza EG (1929) Énumération des grottes visitées, 1918-1927 (7e série). Arch Zool exp gén 68(2):293–608

    Google Scholar 

  • Iurkiewicz A (1976) 4 zile în Ponorâci-Cioclovina cu Apă. Caietul Cerc Speol Emil Racoviță 4:238–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Marin T (2000) 130 ore de bivuac pentru cea mai spectaculoasă explorare a anului 1998–Șura Mare. Speomond 5:11–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Marin T (2012) Explorări în Peștera Șura Mare. Speomond 16:2–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitrofan H, Ponta G (1985) Preliminary note on the karstic system of Șura Mare (Sebeș Mountains). Theor Appl Karstol 2:79–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Murariu D, Decu V, Gheorghiu V, Nistor V (2007) An impressive aggregation of bats hibernating in the Southern Carpathians (Șura Mare Cave—Romania). Studia Chiropter 5:21–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Mutihac V, Ionesi L (1974) Geologia României. Ed Tehnică, București, p 646

    Google Scholar 

  • Orășeanu I, Vențel R, Gaşpar E (1991) Tracers investigations in Poiana Tecuri area (Șureanu Mountains, Romania). Theor Appl Karstol 4:211–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Papiu VC, Mânzatu S, Iosof V, Udrescu C, Giușcă R (1971) Alcătuirea chimico-mineralogică a formațiunilor bauxitifere din bazinul Hațegului. CR Inst Geol 57(2):77–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Petrescu D (2009) Șura Mare cascadă finală. In: Dumitru R (ed) Focul Viu 40 de ani de speologie. Ed RAO, București, pp 105–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Ponta G (1978) Peștera Șura Mare. Aragonit (Bul Cerc Speol Amatori “Liliacul” Arad) 1:50–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Ponta G (1989) Pestera Șura Mare (M-ții Sebeș). Bul Speol 12:75–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Ponta G (1991) New tracing experiences in the Sebeș Mountains—Rumania. In: Proceedings of international conference on environmental changes in karst areas. Universita di Padova, pp 195–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Ponta G (1998) Karst of Romania. In: Yuan D, Liu Z (eds) Global Karst correlation IGCP 299. Science Press, Beijing, pp 193–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Ponta G, Marin C (1989) Karstic aquifers in Sebeș Mountains. In: Proceedings of 10th international congress on speleol, Budapest, pp 463–465

    Google Scholar 

  • Ponta G, Terteleac N (1989) Hydrogeological map, Sheet Pui. Scale 1:50.000. Inst Geol Geofiz, București

    Google Scholar 

  • Pop G, Hârtopanu I, Hârtopanu P, Szasz L, Popescu G, Bandrabur T, Stelea I, Moisescu V (1985) Geologic map of Romania, Pui Sheet (106a; L-34-95-A). Scale 1:50.000, Inst Geol Rom, București

    Google Scholar 

  • Savu H, Pavelescu M, Stancu I, Lupu D (1968) Geologic map of Romania, Orăștie Sheet (26). Scale 1:200.000, L-34-XXIV. Inst Geol Rom, București

    Google Scholar 

  • Săndulescu M (1984) Geotectonica României. Ed Tehnicǎ, București

    Google Scholar 

  • Stilla A (1972) Zona Pui și bazinul Hațeg - unități structurale distinctive în Carpații Meridionali. DS Inst Geol LVII I(5):173–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomuș RB (2011) Monografia carstului din Șureanu. Hunedoara, Club Speleol Proteus, p 244

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomuș RB, Breban RC (2018) Răchițeaua-Șipot cave system. In: Ponta GML, Onac BP (eds) Karst and cave systems of Romania. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 105–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Trufaș V (1978) Apele subterane din Munții Sebeș. Univ București, St Geogr, pp 193–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Trufaș V (1986) Șureanu. Ghid turistic. Ed Sport-Turism, București, p 177

    Google Scholar 

Further Reading

  • Bleahu M (1972) Karst of Rumania. In: Herak M, Springfield VT (eds) Important karst regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 341–353

    Google Scholar 

  • Buduran SE, Sopincean CA, Sopincean MS, Isfan MR, Stan CO, Gherman LL (2013) Peștera Ponorâci-Cioclovina cu Apă. Ed Karina, Deva, p 78

    Google Scholar 

  • Cocean P (1995) Peșterile României. Potenţial turistic. Ed Dacia, Cluj-Napoca, p 264

    Google Scholar 

  • Goran C (1982) Catalogul sistematic al peșterilor din România. Ed CNEFS, București, p 496

    Google Scholar 

  • Orghidan T, Negrea Ş, Racoviță G, Lascu C (1984) Peșteri din Romania. Ed Sport-Turism, București, p 504

    Google Scholar 

  • Sopincean CA, Buduran SE, Sopincean MS, Chachula OM, Stan CO, Gherman LL, Isfan MR (2015) Peștera Șura Mare. Ed Belvedere, Oradea, p 78

    Google Scholar 

Useful Websites

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are thankful to Focul Viu București Caving Club who surveyed Șura Mare, one of the most stunning cave in Romania, with support of cavers from Cristal Oradea, GESS Bucuresti, “Emil Racoviță” Institute of Speleology in Bucharest, and Vertikum Budapest. For the wellbeing of the most spectacular underground stream in Romania, Șura Mare Cave, it is our hope that future explorations will end before making the connection with one of the sinking streams, thus preventing Șura Mare to become a through cave.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Survey of Alabama, 420 Hackberry Lane, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35401, USA

    Gheorghe M. L. Ponta

Authors
  1. Gheorghe M. L. Ponta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gheorghe M. L. Ponta .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Groundwater Assessment Program, Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA

    Gheorghe M. L. Ponta

  2. School of Geosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA

    Bogdan P. Onac

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Ponta, G.M.L. (2019). Karst of Sebes Mountains. In: Ponta, G., Onac, B. (eds) Cave and Karst Systems of Romania. Cave and Karst Systems of the World. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90747-5_13

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation