Use of Caves and Natural Contitions for Improvement of Their Locations

Milan Bursac, Ilija Misailovic
 

Conclusion

         The location of the most significant caves in Serbia in relation to that of cities is such that the following assertions can be made:
    - the cave locations most favorable for activation of tourism are in the vicinity of the city of Nis, which in 1991 had a population of 175,391 and was thereby the third-largest urban center in Serbia;
    - other cave locations favorable for activation of tourism are found near the city of Uzice (one of six macroregional centers in Serbia, with a population of 53,607 in 1991); the city of Valjevo (with a population of 59,016 in 1991); the towns of ]uprija and Paracin (with a total population of 46,934 in 1991); and the towns of Majdanpek, Zagubica, and Kucevo (with a total population of 19,955 in 1991) (SZS, 1993).

    Nine out of the total of 10 caves in Serbia that have been prepared (or partially prepared) to receive tourist visits are located near one of the urban centers mentioned above. The 10th (Mermerna Pecina) is in the vicinity of Pristina in the province of Kosovo.
    The caves and pits covered by the Atlas are located at the farthest 40.0 km away from the nearest centers of municipal government. Such a distance makes it possible to reach even the most remote caves fairly quickly. It is thus possible to reach such caves, have enough time to visit them, and return to some urban settlement in the course of the same day.
    Depending on the distance from the nearest urban (municipal) center, the underground landforms (caves and pits) covered by the Atlas can be divided into the following four groups:
    - ones that are located at a distance of up to 10.0 km from an urban settlement (this group includes 19 such phenomena);
    - ones that are 10.0 to 20.0 km from an urban center (31 caves or pits);
    - ones that are 20.0 to 30.0 km from an urban settlement (24 objects); and
    - ones that are 30.0 to 40.0 km from an urban settlement (seven objects).

    Overall, the average distance of these caves and pits from a settlement is 18.0 km, which means that the majority can be reached fairly quickly.