Image G(V-Istok)P1-GDPM.
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP OF PART OF GATAČKO POLJE,
The "Blaca" Catchment and feeder-complex of the Ljeljinački Potok near Gareva - Dobrelji.
Map extract taken from the restricted-access Yugoslav 1 : 25 000 Series,
Sheet 576-3-3. Gacko (Stepen-Istok), 1974.
[showing 1km. grid squares]
[Image file size = 733 x 700 pixels / 659 kB.]

The observable Ponor located in the vicinity of selo Dobrelji is :-
Ljeljinački Ponor.
(alternative names = Ponor "Ljeljinački Potok"; Ponor "Dobreljski pećina"; Gareva peć.),
..........(status = permanently active);

Specific details about this ponor are given below.
This ponor is in the Catchment of the Rijeka Piva.

We would like to thank the local people for helping us locate the ponor and for information about the history of the local spring Izvor Ljeljenak, which was of great interest to the Austro-Hungarian Karst Engineers.

A return visit is planned to record further details, before all is lost.

"DOBRELJSKA CAVE" PONOR
DOBRELJSKA PEĆINA" PONOR
"ДОБРEЉСКА ПEЋИНА" ПОНОР
 

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Views upstream of the Entrance Portal.

Photos 6.0.4.9..and 6.0.4.10...(above) :
(i) Top View - Ponornice Ljeljinak;
(ii) Bottom View - enclosed basin around the entrance.

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Structural Geological Control of the Development
of the Ponor-cave Passages.

Photos 6.0.4.11., 6.0.4.12..and 6.0.4.13...(above) :
Views of the obvious geological control on the
speleomorphological development of Ljeljinački Ponor,
(i) Top View - on the east wall inside the entrance portal;
(ii) Centre View - on the approach to the Siphon Passage;
(iii) Bottom View - at Siphon 1.

The development of the spacious Entrance Chamber has been controlled by the structural geology of the limestone. Immediately inside the entrance portal, the roof contains avens which open to the surface above. These are clearly ancient ponors now long abandoned. The extreme rear of the Entrance Chamber also leads directly to the surface via a steep bedrock limestone slope giving way to an impressive archway, which also represents an old ponor complex; (see Photo 6.0.4.5. below).
Clearly, the limestone in the vicinity is extremely karstified. The present entrance portal swallows the whole of the Ljeljinak Potok without any difficulty.
After it reaches the lowest point at the rear of the Entrance Chamber, the underground course of the Ljeljinak Stream then turns abruptly left and cascades down over a boulder choke and disappears into Siphon No. 1. This is a wide underwater canal, which we shall be investigating further in 2007.