Bozkov Dolomite Caves - Protection and Research
CONSERVATION AND USE
For their exceptional scientific importance the Bozkov Dolomite Caves had been suggested for protection as early as in 1969, however, they became a properly established National Natural Monument as late as in 1999, by the Decree of the Ministry of the Environment No. 236/1999 Coll. The conservation conditions apply to the underground spaces and the whole surface area with the near surroundings of the karstified dolomite massif. The forest above the cave was originally a fir-beech forest; however, the last fir trees completely disappeared in the 1980s due to emissions. Now the original forest in the protected area has gradually been restored by planting new trees. Important plants include the spring snowflake, which can be found in abundance on the slope under the caves.
The intensive tourist traffic has the potential to seriously harm the sensitive cave ecosystem. To maintain the underground microclimate, especially the constant temperature, high humidity and composition of air so greatly needed to maintain conditions for stalactite and stalagmite formation and their existence, it is necessary to regulate the tourist traffic, and to adhere to the specified number of visitors during individual tours and the number of entries.
The cave conservation is respected by using suitable technology to make the cave accessible and materials and equipment friendly to the environment of the cave. Stainless steel constructions are used. The cave is illuminated by reflectors which radiate only a limited amount of heat during a limited running time.
The stalactite, stalagmite and sinter decorations within reach of visitors are at high risk of damage and, therefore, are guarded by an electronic security system which attracts the guide's attention in case of disruption of the area near the stalactite and stalagmite decoration.
To protect the cave, long-term monitoring and surveys are being carried out in the underground spaces, mainly focused on microclimatic conditions, hydrology and hydrochemistry. This is how knowledge of the natural processes in the specific cave ecosystem is acquired. In cooperation with the Czech Speleological Society, the speleological survey and documentation on the inaccessible areas continue, while new areas are still being discovered.
The underground area of the Bozkov Caves is visited by about 70,000 visitors every year who can listen to the commentary in different languages. Jezerní dóm (Lake Dome) with a spectacular underground lake is also attractive as a movie and TV set or for advertising shoots, and due to its perfect acoustics it is occasionally used for chamber music concerts and similar social gatherings. The administrator and operator of the Bozkov Dolomite Caves is one of the state nature conservation centres – the Cave Administration of the Czech Republic, a state allowance organization governed by the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic.