GP-Ponors

GATAČKO POLJE - ГАТАЧКО ПОЉЕ	The Devon Karst Research Society. The Karstography of the DINARIC KARST IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Part 5.3. Eastern Herzegovina. GATAČKO POLJE - ГАТАЧКО ПОЉЕ Gacko Polje, BiH-RS Trebinje Region - Gacko Municipality. Updated 20 May 2007.
GP Section 6.0.2. Webpage Contents : 6.0.2.1. Ponor "Kučine" 6.0.2.2. Ponor "Đaferov Mlin" 6.0.2.3. Ponor "Hamzin Mlin" 6.0.2.4. Ponor "Vilin Mlin" Click on the underlined Links.above to move down to the Sections more quickly.	Gatačko (Malo) Polje - Гатачко (Мало) Поље Section 6.0.2. PONORS - ПОНОРИ - PONORI kod selo Bašići - код село Башићи : *Image G(M)P1-BPM.* TOPOGRAPHIC MAP OF PART OF GATAČKO POLJE, The course of the Rijeka Mušnica near Bašići. Map extract taken from the restricted-access Yugoslav 1 : 25 000 Series, Sheet 575-4-2. Nevesinje (Nadinići), 1974. [showing 1km. grid squares] [Image file size = 822 x 650 pixels / 906 kB.] The observable Ponors located in the vicinity of selo Bašići are :- Ponor "Kučine", (alternative name = Ponor "Ćunin mlin"), kod Kruškica, ..........(status = intermittent, only active at medium to high river flow); Ponor "Đaferov mlin", (alternative name = Ponor "Nasufov mlin"), pod Mišova glav., ..........(status = permanent - controllable); Ponor "Hamzin mlin", ..........(status = permanent - no control), pod Mišova glav. Ponor "Vilin mlin", kod Lučica, ..........(status - intermittent - no control); Specific details about some of these ponors are given below. They are all in the Catchment of the "ponornice" Rijeka Trebišnjica. These interesting ponor areas are now mostly abandoned and growing wild and there are many other ponors no longer visible and many others still which have become totally choked with vegetation. One example of this is the area around Ponor "Vilin Mlin", (the area is also called Vilin Mlin), where there were many ponors and ponor mills once operating; here is now only the one ponor visible amongst thick undergrowth and bushes. There are no operating ponor mills in or near selo Bašići and few signs of where they once were. *Milanović.(2006) indicates on a map of the area the locations of many ponors, some with names; ie. Ponor "Vilin mlin"; Ponor "Čurovac"; Ponor "Čučin" (= Ponor Kučine"); Ponor "Djeka"; Ponor "Vagani".and some more without names. We suspect that some of these names are wrong. We would like to thank our local volunteer guide, Faim Bašić* for helping us locate the ponors and for information about their names and history. We questioned him in some detail about many aspects of the karstography around his village. The Austro-Hungarian heritage of Gatačko Polje was well known to him and the villagers and they have great admiration for what was achieved during this historical period in regard to controlling the water of the polje. A return visit is planned for 2007 to record further details, before all is lost.
Gatačko (Malo) Polje - Гатачко (Мало) Поље kod Selo Bašići "KUČINE" PONOR PONOR "KUČINE" ПОНОР "КУЧИНE"	6.0.2.1...."KUČINE" PONOR - PONOR "KUČINE" - ПОНОР "КУЧИНE" : GPS Co-ordinates :..43° 08' 23"N. : 018° 29' 14"E. [8 Sats]. This is located in the Malo Polje area, south-east of the village of Bašići and slightly north of the hill Kruškica, at the end of a substantial streambed leading off from the right bank of the Rijeka Mušnica. The position of the ponor and its loop-streamway are clearly indicated on the Map above. The ponor is situated at an elevation of 923m. asl. The streambed is active only when the "ponornice" Rijeka Mušnica is at medium to high flow. The water flowing into this Ponor was once used by one ponor mill, Ćunin mlin, the complex ruins of which are extant, as partly illustrated in the images below. (All photographs were recorded by B. Lewarne, 19 August 2006.) Photo 6.0.2.1. (above-left)..General view of the landscape south-east of selo Bašići and north-west of Ponor "Kučine". The grassy approach track to the ponor can be seen in the bottom left of the view before turning right to end near a local groblje, the wall of which can be seen centre-right in the view. The dry bed of the ponor-approach streamway can be seen to the left of the track, centre-picture. Photo 6.0.2.2. (above-centre)..The final meander in the ponor-approach streamway, which also loops the water away via a less obvious streamway in the top right of the view, when the ponor is inundated. Photo 6.0.2.3. (above-right)..A first view of the ponor, with the small hill Kruškica in the background. Photo 6.0.2.4. (above-centre)..A single millstone in the grass above the ponor and the ponor mill giving testimony to what was once here. Photo 6.0.2.5. (above-right)..A view looking down into the ponor entrance shaft from the north-east side. Photo 6.0.2.6. (above-right)..A view down into the ponor-inlet passage on the north side. Photo 6.0.2.7. (above-centre)..As with Photo 6.0.2.6. above, but in context, indicating the well-built stream-inlet portal on the north side..... Photo 6.0.2.8. (above-right)...... and in further context. Ćunin mlin seems to have included a small complex of water-controlling structures. A small "bridge" is located directly above the position indicated in *Photos*.6.0.2.7. and 6.0.2.8. above. The reason for the bridge construction eludes us at present. Indeed, we cannot make much sense of any of the mill layout. The main mill and its turbine were located high up on the south side of the ponor shaft, where a subsidiary water input channel is located. We cannot determine the need for the structure in the lower two photographs above, which are also at the end of the main surface feeder streamway. The ponor is overgrown but accessible. It is choked by sediment-banks at the accessible base of the surface shaft, indicating a low absorption capacity. We currently have no hydrological data relating to this ponor. We thank the local inhabitants for their assistance in helping us find the ponor.
Gatačko Polje - Гатачко Поље kod Selo Bašići "DJAFER'S MILL" PONOR PONOR "ĐAFEROV MLIN" ПОНОР "ЂАФEРОВ МЛИН" *Photo 6.0.2.11.* The cavernous exokarst of Mišova glavica rising above Ponor "Đaferov Mlin".	6.0.2.2...."DJAFER'S MILL" PONOR - PONOR "ĐAFEROV MLIN" - ПОНОР "ЂАФEРОВ МЛИН" : GPS Co-ordinates :..43° 08' 45"N. : 018° 29' 11"E. [6 Sats]. This is located in the Malo Polje area, north-west of the village of Bašići, at the end of an artificial streambed of Austro-Hungarian construction, leading off from the right bank of the "ponornice" Rijeka Mušnica. The position of the ponor and its short streamway are clearly indicated on the Map above. The ponor is situated at an elevation of 922m. asl. at the north-eastern foot of a large limestone cliff forming part of Mišova glav., (glavica = ridge). The Mill itself is the most complete we have seen in this area, though it is totally derelict and beyond use. The take-off point of the canal on the riverbank of the Rijeka Mušnica once had a fine control-weir and sluice-gate construction, built by the Austro-Hungarian Engineers in the late 19th century, to enable the local villagers to build a Mill using the nearby ponor as the usual hydraulic outlet for the mill turbines, (ie a ponor mill). The stonework and other materials used in the construction of the control-weir and sluice-gate were so good, that after the ponor mill itself became disused, they were scavenged and put to other uses. Although the mill is no longer used, the ponor streamway is kept permanently active and if necessary, it can be stopped off quite quickly. .......... Photo 6.0.2.9. (above-left)..The overgrown ponor-mouth area at the end of the mill-stream. Photo 6.0.2.10. (above-right)..The "Đaferov mlin" Ponor mouth, about 1 metre wide leading to an entrance shaft below. During our visit in mid-August 2006., the ponor mouth was choked with much loose wood and branches. There was neither the time nor the opportunity on the reconnaisance tour to unblock the entrance. The ponor probably has a relatively low absorption capacity. We currently have no hydrological data relating to this ponor.
Gatačko Polje - Гатачко Поље kod Selo Bašići "HAMZIN MILL" PONOR PONOR "HAMZIN MLIN" ПОНОР "ХАМЗИН МЛИН" *Photo 6.0.2.16.* The cavernous exokarst of Mišova glavica rising above Ponor "Hamzin Mlin".	6.0.2.3...."HAMZIN MILL" PONOR - PONOR "HAMZIN MLIN" - ПОНОР "ХАМЗИН МЛИН" : GPS Co-ordinates :..43° 08' 52"N. : 018° 29' 14"E. [6 Sats]. This is located in the Malo Polje area, north-west of the village of Bašići, a few metres in from the right bank of the "ponornice" Rijeka Mušnica. The ponor is situated at an elevation of 930m. asl. at the foot of a large limestone cliff forming part of Mišova glav. It is permanently active, although at low water levels, the water is fighting to have to get through the few metres of thickly rooted ground between the river and the ponor mouth! There is no sign of a mill structure here. .......... Photo 6.0.2.12. (above-left)..The overgrown ponor-mouth area about 6 metres from the right bank of the Rijeka Mušnica, by the trees on the far left of the view. Photo 6.0.2.13. (above-right)..The "Hamzin mlin" Ponor mouth, with our local guide, Faim Bašić, sitting inside. Photo 6.0.2.14. (above-left)..The high level passage inside the mouth of the entrance. Photo 6.0.2.15. (above-right)..The main passage is at a lower level and takes water which flows in from a position to the bottom-right of the view. The stream then turns to flow in the direction of the figure investigating the far end of the passage, at which point it turns left and flows through a low accessible archway at the foot of the left wall. (Photos6.0.2.14. and 6.0.2.15. : Dejan Janković, 19 August 2006.) The ponor is wide open with a considerable sized entrance chamber taking water from the nearby Rijeka Mušnica. There is the potential for the exploration of two different routes off this entrance chamber. The ponor probably has a relatively low absorption capacity. We currently have no hydrological data relating to this ponor.
Gatačko Polje - Гатачко Поље kod Selo Bašići "VILIN MILL" PONOR PONOR "VILIN MLIN" ПОНОР "ВИЛИН МЛИН"	6.0.2.4...."VILIN MILL" PONOR - PONOR "VILIN MLIN" - ПОНОР "ВИЛИН МЛИН" : GPS Co-ordinates :..43° 08' 55"N. : 018° 29' 14"E. [9 Sats]. This is located in the Malo Polje area, north-west of the village of Bašići, at the end of a short artificial streambed leading off from the right bank of the "ponornice" Rijeka Mušnica. The ponor is situated at an elevation of 933m. asl. at the foot of a large limestone cliff forming part of Mišova glav. It is intermittently active, although it can be controlled to flow permanently. The ponor entrance shaft is heavily overgrown at the surface, preventing further investigation during our initial fact-finding tour of the area. There are a few signs of a mill structure here. The ponor probably has a relatively low absorption capacity. We currently have no hydrological data relating to this ponor.
.GATAČKO POLJE - ГАТАЧКО ПОЉЕ	\|....Gatačko Polje - Section 6....\|....Dinaric Karst in BiH - Home Page...\|....Gatačko Polje - Section 7....\|