Post Congress excursions*: 1. Dubrovnik Ombla - Popovo polje (Vjetrenica) (BiH) HE Trebinje (BiH) Grahovsko polje (MNE) The Boka Kotorska Springs and Kotor Old town (UNESCO heritage site) (MNE) Dubrovnik 2 days (1 night) Day 1-30th September, 2017. 08:00 departure from Dubrovnik. 15 minutes drive to the first stop -the Ombla spring, which is the largest karst spring in the southern Dalmatia region of Croatia (Fig.1.1). It is a typical contact spring, developed on the contact of Mesozoic carbonate rocks overthrust onto thick Eocene flysch deposits which represent a total hydrogeological barrier to groundwater flow from hinterland. Source of recharge of limestone aquifers is precipitation in the hinterland, which dispersedly infiltrates the underground in the areas where karstified limestones are present at and near the surface. Average discharge rate of the spring is 24 m3/s, with a minimum of 3 m 3/s and a maximum of 138 m3/s. Fig. 1.1 The Ombla spring (photo by N. Ilijanić) Afterwards, 1:30 hour drive to Vjetrenica and Popovo polje (Bosnia & Herzegovina). The Popovo polje is a specific example of karst phenomena. The Vjetrenica cave (Windy cave) is located in the south-western rim of the Popovo polje (Fig.1.2). Investigation of the Vjetrenica cave started in 1858 and the length of surveyed channels has reached 7,503 m. Some 1,250 m has been adapted for tourist visits. Continue drive to Trebinje (1 hour drive). Stop in Trebinje and lunch. After lunch, sightseeing of the Trebišnjica Hydrosystem (HE Trebinje) which is one of the most complex development projects in the Dinaric karst area. In this area, water is the only important and valuable natural resource. It s large hydroelectric power potential, as the basis for the advanced economic development of this region, was recognized long ago. In the evening sightseeing of the town Trebinje - overnight. Fig. 1. 2. The Vjetrenica cave (http://herzegovina.travel/blog/listings/vjetrenica-cave/)
Day 2 1st October, 2017 08:00 departure from Trebinje. Drive to the Grahovsko polje is one of the smallest poljes within the highly developed karst of the Montenegrian Mountains (1 hour drive). It is a small depression of some 6.5 km2 located close to the border with Bosnia & Herzegovina. The polje is 7 km long, with a maximum width of 1.5 km, and situated at an average altitude of 750 m. Afterwards, 1h drive to Boka Kotorska springs. There are several springs in Boka Kotorska bay which are used for water supply of surrounding settlements. At this stop hydrogeology and management of these springs will be presented. Departure to Kotor Old town. The Old Town of Kotor is one of the best kept mediaeval towns in this part of the Mediterranean. It has managed to keep its structure typical of towns from the XII to XIV century. The asymmetric structure of narrow streets with medieval monuments contributed, among other beautiful buildings, to Kotor being entered into the UNESCO Registry of World Cultural Heritage and Natural Beauties. Lunch and after departure to Dubrovnik. End of tour. Fig. 1.3 The Kotor Old town (www.panoramio.com) Price of the tour: 175 EUR Price includes: bus transportation, tour guide, meals as mentioned in the program (2 lunches, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast), overnight in Trebinje in single room, bottle of water (0,5 l)organization of the tour, VAT. Price does not include: drinks with meals, tips. *Price is based on 40 paying passengers. In case that number is not met, price will increase. ** Please check if you require visa to enter Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro!
2. Dubrovnik Blue and Red lakes Imotski (Opačac spring) - Plitvice lakes Zagreb - Ljubljana (SLO) 3 days (2 nights) Day 1-30th September 2017. 08:00 Departure from Dubrovnik. Drive (3 hours) to Blue and Red lakes (Imotski region). Lakes are karstic phenomena and among the top tourist attraction of Imotski region. The Blue Lake got named after the colour of water in it and the Red Lake's name comes from the red stones surrounding it. In the Late Miocene, a rather large lake existed in the area around Imotski, with shallow holes at its SW border. Through these shallow holes the water flows down to the existing erosional base. Neotectonic activities and collapse processes caused formations of sinkholes today s lakes. Fig. 2.1 Blue and Red Lakes (http://www.splitadventure.com/redand-blue-lake.asp) In the vicinity of lakes, the Opačac spring is situated. the water from the spring is used for water supply of the town Imotski, municipalities Proložac, Podbablje, Zmijavci, Runovići, Zagvozd, Lokvičići, and partially municipalities Lovreć i Cista Provo. Lunch in Imotski and continue to the Plitvice Lakes (3 hours drive). Arrival in national park the Plitvice Lakes, dinner and overnight. Day 2 1st October 2017 09:00 Departure for the visit of the national park. The sixteen lakes, linked in a cascade manner, are situated over a distance of 8.200 m and a drop of 158 m in a karstified terrain between slopes of the Mt. Mala Kapela and the Mt. Lička Plješivica. The highest waterfall located on the course of the Plitvice Stream is over 70 m high and lies above the Sastavci, beneath which the spring of the Korana River is situated. the lakes and the its hinterland have been protected since 1949 as the first Croatian National Park and the lakes have been under the protection of UNESCO from 1979 as a part of the world cultural and natural heritage (Fig. 2.2). Fig. 2.2 The Plitvice Lakes in winter (http://www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/en/)
13:00 Lunch at the park and departure to Zagreb (3 hours drive). Arrival in Zagreb in the late afternoon. Walking tour of Zagreb (Fig. 2.3). Dinner at the hotel. Overnight. Fig. 2.3. Zagreb (http://www.infozagreb.hr) Day 3 2nd October 2017 After breakfast, visit to the weir TE-TO on the Sava River. Zagreb aquifer is an unconfined alluvial aquifer with water table permanently connected to the Sava river, which is a perennial river. Therefore, groundwater levels are strongly dependent on the Sava river water levels. Aquifer is mainly built of gravels and sands, which Sava river transported from the Alpine regions during the Holocene period. Transport of gravels and sands though stopped upon building of hydroelectric power plants (HPP s) in upstream parts of the Sava river course. Since, Sava riverbed faces continuous decrease in its downstream parts due to dominant erosional processes of the riverbed (Fig. 2.4). Riverbed decrease causes decrease in Sava water levels, which further causes decrease in groundwater levels due to hydraulic connection of the Sava water levels and aquifer water table (Fig. 2.4). Fig. 2.2 Schematic hydrogeological cross-section Departure to Ljubljana. Driving time 2 hours. Arrival in Ljubljana. Sightseeing of the city and Ljubljana pumping site. End of the tour. Price of the tour: 385 EUR
Price includes: bus transportation, tour guide, meals as mentioned in the program (2 lunches, 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts), overnight in Plitvice and Zagreb in twin room, bottle of water (0,5 l), organization of the tour, VAT. Supplement for single room: 70 EUR (limited number of single rooms) Price does not include: drinks with meals, tips. *Price is based on 40 paying passengers. In case that number is not met, price will increase. ** Please check if you require visa to enter Slovenia.
3. Dubrovnik Jadro Gacka River and springs Rijeka (Zvir spring) Zagreb 2 days (1 night) Day 1-30th September, 2017. 08:00 departure from Dubrovnik. 4 hour drive to the Jadro spring, which is situated in the middle Dalmatia. It is one of the largest springs in the middle Dalmatia. Discharge of the spring ranges from 3.6 to 78 m3/s. The spring water is used for water supply of the towns Split, Solin, Kaštela and Trogir. During the Roman time, the spring was used for water supply of Diocletian's Palace (Fig. 3.1). Fig.3.1. Diocletian's Palace(http://splitculture.hr) After stop Jadro departure to Split. Lunch in Split and sightseeing tour (Fig. 3.2). Departure to the Gacka River and its springs. Dinner and overnight in Otočac. Fig. 3.2. Split (http://www.stagcrewcroatia.com/split) Day 2 1st October, 2017 After breakfast, departure to springs of the Gacka River. Four major springs form the Gacka River: Tonković vrelo, Majerovo Vrilo, Klanac and Pećina. At the discharge points springs form beautiful small lakes which gradually join into a single course of the Gacka River (Fig. 3.3). vrilo (photo by T. Marković) Fig. 3.3 Majerovo Fig. 3.4 Klanac (photo by J. Lukač Reberski)
Catchment area of Gacka springs is about 500 km2 and thus falls into the category of large catchments. Aquifer system of the Gacka springs is built of the uniform rock lithology and the intensive tectonic dynamics had a dominant influence on the direction of groundwater flow. Fig. 3.5. Springing zone Zvir Zvir II Departure to Rijeka and Zvir spring (2 hours drive). Karst spring Zvir is one of the largest permanent karst springs in Croatia. Its discharge capacity varies between 0.9 and 7.5 m3/s, and is captured for the water-supply of the city of Rijeka, the third largest city in Croatia. Near the spring Zvir, water intake gallery Zvir II was built with an additional 0.5 m3/s for the water-supply system (Fig. 3.5). Sightseeing of the city Rijeka. Lunch in Rijeka and after lunch departure to Zagreb. Arrival in Zagreb in the evening. Fig. 3.6. Rijeka (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/rijeka) Price of the tour: 220 EUR Price includes: bus transportation, tour guide, meals as mentioned in the program (2 lunches, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast), overnight in Otočac in twin or triple room, bottle of water (0,5 l), organization of the tour, VAT. Price does not include: drinks with meals, entrance fees, tips. *No single rooms available. Price does not include: drinks with meals, tips. *Price is based on 30 paying passengers. In case that number is not met, price will increase.
4. Dubrovnik Buna spring (Mostar) (BiH) Bosna spring (Sarajevo) (BiH) Požega -Daruvar Zagreb 3 days (2 nights) Day 1-30th September 2017. 08:00 Departure from Dubrovnik. Drive (3 hours) to Mostar and Buna spring (Bosnia & Herzegovina). Stop at Buna spring (Vrelo Bune) in Blagaj. The spring is one of the largest and famous springs in Dinaric karst. It occurs at an altitude 36 m.n.m. from the cave, which is formed in the forefront covers of limestone (Upper Cretaceous) on Eocene flysch. The cave enterance is beneath the steep limestone cliff (Fig. 4.1). The cave channel is explored in the length of 470 m. The spring is characterizes by huge oscillations of yields from average Qavr = 23,70 m3/s; minimal, Qmin = 2,95 m3/s ; maximum, Fig. 4.1. Vrelo Bune (www. travelbosnia.com) Qmax = 380 m3/s. After stop at Buna spring/blagaj, continue to Mostar. Sightseeing of the city and lunch. After lunch continue to Sarajevo (3 hours drive). Arrival in Sarajevo. Sightseeing of the city, dinner at the hotel President and overnight. Fig. 4.2. Mostar (http://www.sarajevotimes.com) Fig. 4.3. Sarajevo (http://www.romantik.ba)
Day 2 1st October 2017 After breakfast, departure to the Bosna spring (Vrelo Bosne). The catchment area of the spring is a public park. The spring occurs at the foothills of the Mt. Igman in the outskirts of Sarajevo. The spring yields vary from Q min= 1,27 m3/s to Qmax=25,0 m3/s and the average yield is Qav= 5,99 m3/s. Lunch in Sarajevo and departure to Požega (4 hours drive). Fig. 4.4. Vrelo Bosne (photo by F. Skopljar) The majority of drinking water demand of the town of Požega and nearby settlements are met by groundwater abstraction from two different types of aquifers i) fissured, mainly dolomite aquifers which are found in hills and mountains that surround the Valis aurea (Golden valley) where most of settlements are situated, and ii) Quaternary alluvial aquifer in the valley. The latter is exploited at two pumping sites Zapadno polje and Luke, with abstraction rates during the draught season up to 80 and 40 L/s respectively. Both pumping sites are situated near the Orljava river (Fig 1) at the western outskirts of Požega. Unconfined alluvial aquifer is composed of gravel, sand and small shares of silt and clay. Its thickness varies between 4 and 6 m. There is a semipermeable layer above the aquifer, mainly composed of silt and clay. Hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer is in the region of 300 m/day, locally even up to 400 m/day. Aquifer is recharged by infiltration of precipitation and percolation of river water, with the latter being induced by water abstraction close to the surface water. Fig. 4.5. Orljava river in the vicinity of the pumping sites Zapadno polje and Luke (photo by O. Larva) Day 3 2nd October 2017 After the breakfast visit to Daruvar geothermal aquifer. Daruvar geothermal springs are situated near the centre of the town, in the Toplica River valley. Waters from Daruvar geothermal aquifer are used for health and recreational tourism. The most important natural springs are Ivanovo, Antunovo and Marijino vrelo, with temperatures ranging from 40 to 48 C.
Fig. 4.6 Daruvar area geographical position and geological cross-section (modified from Crnko et al., 1998) Geothermal waters are of meteoric origin according to the stabile isotopes. Recharge area is located eastward from Daruvar, where fractured Triassic and Jurassic carbonates are widely present at the surface and enable the infiltration of parental meteoric waters. Carbonates are underlain by impermeable Triassic and Permian clastic rocks which block further infiltration and cause lateral flow westward, in the direction of layer dip as well as potential drop. Departure to Zagreb(2 hours drive). Stop at the weir TE-TO on the Sava River (see excursion 3). Price of the tour: 350 EUR Price includes: bus transportation, tour guide, meals as mentioned in the program (2 lunches, 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts), overnight in Sarajevo and Daruvar in twin room, bottle of water (0,5 l), organization of the tour, VAT. Supplement for single room: 50 EUR (limited number of single rooms) *Price is based on 35 paying passengers. In case that number is not met, price will increase. ** Please check if you require visa to enter Bosnia & Herzegovina!