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Caves and speleology

Of all mountainous areas, the Velebit and Mosor mountain ranges, as well as the Paklenica National Park have the most speleological sites such as caves and gorges suited for professionals that are familiar with techniques for climbing, descending into and moving through caves with full equipment etc. Here is a list of the best known caves:

• Panjkova špilja Kršnje on Kordun, 12385 m
• Cave in Tounj Quarry, Tounj, 8410 m
• Veternica, Medvednica near Zagreb, 6816 m
• Jopićeve Kordun by Krnjaka, 6564 m
• Donja Cerovačka Cave, South Velebit, Gračac, 2510 m
• Cave Klementina, Velebit, 2403 m
• Cave Mandelaja Oštarije kod Ogulina, 2326 m
• Cave Munižaba, Velebit, 2300 m
• Ponorac - Suvaja, Kordun, 2232 m
• Lukina Cave, North Velebit, 1392 m
• Slovačka, Sjeverni Velebit, 1017 m
• Stara Škola, Biokovo, 576 m
• Vilimova Cave, Biokovo, 572 m
• Ponor on Bunjevac, South Velebit, 534 m
• Jama za kamenitim vratima, Biokovo, 520 m
• Fantomska Cave, Velebit, 477 m
• Ledenica in Lomska dolina, Velebit, 451 m
• Cave Munižaba, Velebit, 448 m
• Stupina Cave, Bitoraj, 413 m
• Nova velika jama, Biokovo, 380 m
• Cave by Rašpor, Ćićarija, 361m
• Biokovka, Biokovo, 359 m
• Podgračišće, otok Brač, 329 m
• Klanski gorge (Gotovž), okolica Rijeke, 320 m
• Puhaljka, South Velebit, 320 m
• Zaboravna Cave, Biokovo, 311 m
• Mala (Crna) Kicljeva Cave Skrad, Gorski kotar, 285 m
• Balinka Plaški, Lika, 283 m
• Jama kod Matešića stana, otok Brač, 280 m
• Pretnerova Cave, Biokovo, 252 m
• Semička Ćićarija, Istra, 236 m

Besides traditional speleology, cave diving, that is exploring underwater caves, is becoming more and more popular. Cave diving consists of two disciplines: Recreational cave diving - diving in underwater caves without particular knowledge of speleological techniques and Professional cave diving - diving in underwater caves, springs or in waters in land caves for which knowledge of diving and speleological techniques is a must.