WARNING!
We class the area as "ethnically-sensitive".
Parts of Gatačko Polje remain ethnically sensitive
areas and we strongly advise visitors from other
countries not to wander around or to travel
off-road without specialist local guides.

The situation is worsened by the recent agreement between the pariah organization Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS) [= The Power Utility of the "Republic of Srpska" political entity of Bosnia & Herzegovina] and a commercial organization in
the Czech Republic, "Elektroprivrede Češke Republike" (ČEZ), to provide an additional power generating station in this polje - a development which is environmentally and ecologically unsustainable.
This proposed new Power Plant is bad for Gacko; bad for Gatačko Polje and bad for Herzegovina.
The ERS claim to be unable to control the situation that currently exists within Gatačko Polje arising as a result of the operating TE Gacko 1. Power Plant.
This fact was given to us in August 2005 by the HET Co. in Trebinje, another domestic part of the growing ERS Empire.

In detailing the karstography of parts of this area, by default we are also reporting on the appalling environmental degradation. Here is the basis of our problem, both for the Society and its Members who travel to the location.
Our specific problem is not in the reporting of the situation but rather with the consequences of doing so. It should be sufficient for us to say that there are many very powerful and corrupt individuals holding positions of great authority in both the Public
and Commercial Sectors in the RS-BiH Political Entity and who are "remnants" from the previous political regime of SFR Jugoslavija."

This greatly delayed series of Webpages will gradually become accessible on-line over the coming weeks and months. Some of the information provided may be subject to sudden un-announced removal from the Website."

Section 1.0...Introduction. (opposite).
Section 1.1...Historical Information Link Page.
..........................(opens in a separate page.)

Section 1.2...Contemporary views - Veliko Polje.
Section 1.3...Contemporary views - Malo Polje.
Section 1.4...Contemporary views - Ljeljinački Polje.
Section 1.5...Contemporary views - Pusto Polje.
Section 1.6...Geology.
Index of Links to other Information Sections.

GP Maps Link Page.
(opens in a separate page.)

Click on the underlined Links.above to move down to the Sections more quickly.

This large, geomorphologically- and hydrographically-complex karst polje is situated in the Dinaric Karst and north-easterly within the area known as Eastern Herzegovina. The nearest large urban conurbation is Gacko, the main settlement situated on its north-eastern border and after which the polje is named. Avtovac and Gračanica are other large settlements on the northern and eastern rims. Gacko is situated 145 km. by road from Sarajevo. The area of the polje runs from the settlements of Lukovice and Nadinići in the north-west corner to Kazanci and Bobotovo Groblje in its north-east corner and selo Stolac in the south-east corner. The polje-floor is mostly represented by the traditional flat alluvial plain, which changes to a more rugged and exposed karst terrain in the south-eastern areas around the areas of Pusto Polje and Ljeljinački Polje.

This polje is principally divided into two distinctive areas; the VELIKO (=Great) POLJE and the MALO (=Small) POLJE. The VELIKO POLJE is further geographically subdivided into the GORNJE (=Upper) POLJE and several DONJE (=Lower) POLJE areas.
Other areas at the eastern and far-eastern ends of the Great Polje are sometimes referred to as Samoborsko Polje, Pusto (=Moorland) Polje and Ljeljinački Polje. These areas will be described in our present coverage of information, even though they are currently outside the geographical range of the Society's Main Project in BiH.
Another associated area contiguous with but elevated above the level of the greater depression of Gatačko Polje is Ponikve; this area together with that of the Lebršnik Mountain karst massif will not be covered in these Webpages.
In an historical context, the Klinje Reservoir is specifically dealt with in sub-Section 1.1.

Official information cites the main natural resources of Opština Gacko as being :..coal (as low quality lignite); water; agricultural land; rock (as limestone); sand and gravel; medicinal herbs.
The official figures for the structure of land-use is proportioned as follows :  grass-land / pasture 48%; forests and smaller growth 28%; meadows 12%; arable land 8%; unproductive land 3.8%; orchards 0.2%.
The different parts or distinct areas of this Polje are illustrated in the Images below on this Webpage.

1.1....HISTORICAL :
The historical information, including images, are accessible on a separate Link Page. Please click on the appropriate Link opposite in the left-side column.

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In this Polje, there is the major town of Gacko and 5 principal village Settlements.
These are Avtovac, Gračanica, Srđevići, Bašići and
Kula Fazlagić. There are numerous other Settlements.

As they become available, a few general views
of each of these will be posted in the appropriate row of this column further below.

Owing to its special historical importance in the scientific development of Bosnia & Herzegovina, the second major settlement of Avtovac will eventually have a special Link Page.

The area of Gatačko Polje is far too large for us to use
our preferred 1 : 25000 Scale Maps.

GP1M...MAP OF GATAČKO POLJE,
Central area :  Gacko - Avtovac  /  Bašići - Kula.
Taken from the Yugoslav 1 : 50 000 Series.

GP2M...MAP OF GATAČKO POLJE,
Western and part of Central areas.
Taken from the Yugoslav 1 : 50 000 Series.

GP3M...MAP OF GATAČKO POLJE,
Western and part of Central areas.
Taken from the Yugoslav 1 : 50 000 Series.

Photo GP1.3.3...Selo.Kula Fazlagića, Gatačko (Malo) Polje.
(Photo :  Igor Trklja, 02 Sept. 2006.)

Photo GP1.4.3...Selo V. Gareva, Gatačko (Ljeljinački) Polje.
(Photo :  Igor Trklja, 02 Sept. 2006.)

Photo GP1.4.4...Selo V. Gareva, Gatačko (Ljeljinački) Polje.
(Photo :  Igor Trklja, 02 Sept. 2006.)

[awaiting further images]

This is another area of interest to the Society, insofar as it contains characteristic karst features.
This may also be regarded as one of the separate hydrographic areas of the Gatačko (Donje-Veliko) Polje.

Photo GP1.5.1. (left).:
A view of a more traditional polje-floor landscape area, looking south from the road between Avtovac and selo V. Gareva, almost at the northern edge of the Gatačko (Pusto)-polje area.
The mountain massif in the far distance is Baba, situated at the northern perimeter of the next and lower-elevated polje at Cernica, (Cerničko Polje).
In this Image, the car has been stopped on the road to V. Gareva in order that we may take a look at some of the karst features, as portrayed in the adjacent column.
(Photo :  Igor Trklja, 02 Sept. 2006.)

GEOLOGY  /  GEOLOGIJA  /  ГЕОЛОГИЈА

Gatačko Polje  /  Гатачко поље :
Geological Map  /  Геолошка карта  /  Geološka karta.
(from the FSRJ Geological Survey.)

Neogene sediments, of maximum thickness of about 450m. (1476 ft.), contain a "coal series" which reach a depth of about 240m. (787 ft.). On the basis of lithological and palaeontological analysis, R. Milojević has divided the Neogene Series into 13 litho-stratigraphic units in which there are 3 coal layers or strata, (Beds I and II and a main coal layer) and one coal zone with impure coal and coal marls. (N. Dedić; Đ. Ostojić, 1981).

[more geological details to follow]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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.....Section 1.....General Description  -  Generalni Opis  -  Генерални Опис : (Given on this Webpage).
................sub-Section 1.1.....Historical Information  -  Istorijska informacija  -  Историјска информација :

.....Section 2.....Karst Hydrology & Hydrogeology  -  Hidrologija i Hidrogeologija Karsta  -  Хидрологија и Хидрогеологија Карста :
.....Section 3.....Karst Springs  -  Kraški Izvori i Vrela  -  Крашки Извори и Врело :
.....Section 4.....Rivers & Streams  -  Rijeke i Potoci  -  Ријеке и Потоци :
.....Section 5.....The Periodic Lake  -  Periodično Jezero  -  Периодично Језеро :
.....Section 6.....Ponors  -  Ponori  -  Понори :
................sub-Section..6.0.1.....near / kod selo Srđevići  -  код село Срђевићи :
................sub-Section..6.0.2.....near / kod selo Bašići  -  код село Башићи :
................sub-Section..6.0.3.....near / kod selo Stolac  -  код село Столац :
................sub-Section..6.0.4.....near / kod sela V. Gareva - Dobrelji  -  код села В.Гарева - Добрељи :
................sub-Section..6.0.5.....near / kod selo Bobotovo Groblje  -  код село Боботово гробље :

.....Section 7.....Estavelles  -  Estavele  -  Еставеле :
.....Section 8.....Shafts & Caves  -  Jame i Pećine  -  Јаме и Пећине :
.....Section 9A...Anthropogenic Impact (Electricity Generation) -  Antropogenski Udar  -  Антропогенскi Удар :
.....Section 9B...Anthropogenic Impact (Mineral Extraction & Mining) -  Antropogenski Udar  -  Антропогенскi Удар :
.....Section 10...Bibliography  -  Bibliografija  - Библиографиijа  :

There is to be no further coverage of the karstography of this polje, other than that provided in the above Sections.

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