The polje between sky and earth
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The polje between sky and earth

by Cyril Mayaud, Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU, Postojna, Slovenia

Poljes are one of the most impressive features existing in karst landscapes. These large flat closed depressions are prone to regular flooding that can form temporary lakes on their surface. Planinsko Polje is surely the most famous example of polje existing. The highest floods can reach up to 8 meters above the gauging station and last for more than two months. The lake is then more than 10km2 large, which strongly modify the daily life of the inhabitants living in the polje surroundings.

Featured on GeoLog, the official blog of the European Geosciences Union