Sloup–šošůvka Caves - Protection and research
PRESENT USE OF THE CAVE
The Sloup-Šošůvka Caves are primarily used for guided tours and field trips. Eliška's Cave is occasionally available for vocal and chamber music concerts. There is a speleotherapeutic sanatorium in selected parts of the Sloup Caves. Favourable conditions of the cave environment (humidity, the presence of negative ions…) have a beneficial effect on children’s asthmatic problems especially if they come from regions affected by emissions. Long lasting successful treatment in the Sloup Caves has led to the introduction of speleotherapy in another underground part of the Moravian Karst – the Císařská Cave.
The Sloup-Šošůvka Caves can easily be considered unique and they serve both the lay and expert public for study and understanding of natural and cultural values.
CONSERVATION, RESEARCH, BIOSPELEOLOGY
In 1955 the Moravian Karst was declared a protected landscape area of 9,200 ha. The Sloup-Šošůvka Caves were declared a nature reserve with an area of 7.8 ha on 20th December 1999.
Selected species of fauna and flora are strictly protected here. The Sloup-Šošůvka Caves are an important natural wintering place for different species of bats and therefore the activities in the caves from November to January are minimized. During the past few reconstructions of the cave tour in the Sloup-Šošůvka Caves, attempts were made to restore the caves to their original condition, to effectively protect the stalactite decoration against vandals and illuminate the underground premises in a sensitive way.
The speleology research and documentation of the cave has been ongoing as well as microclimate, hydrochemical, geological and other types of research complementing the study of natural processes and the human impact on the karst phenomena.