INFN CHNet and LNGS present:

Mavrovo Caving Project

Speleological exploration and scientific research: a clear example of collaboration and multidisciplinarity

The idea of exploring the karst mountains of Macedonia, in particular those located in the Mavrovo National Park, was born by chance in 2016 after a conversation with a Macedonian friend who attended an introduction course to speleology, organized by the Centro di Speleologia Montelago. After an accurate analysis of satellite images, we immediately realized how the considered area shows a highly karst potential. Driven by an irrepressible curiosity, in summer 2016 during our first exploration all our hypothesis were confirmed. During the first mission, pursuing the indications of local speleologists, we explored important sites, forgotten by the local population, which turned out to be of enormous scientific interest. We have established important relationships with local and national authorities that allowed us to organize a second exploration in 2017, with a purely scientific aim. The seminar titled "Mavrovo Caving Project" aims to illustrate the investigations following the two expeditions and the preliminary and relevant obtained results.