Punkva (Punkevní) Caves - Protection and Research
In 1956 Moravian Karst was proclaimed as the protected scenic area. The Punkva caves with Macocha abyss and surrounding karst ditches are the centre of the national scenic reservation of the Punkva spring. All underground and surface karst phenomena, their living nad lifeless elements are protected according to the law number 114/92 about the nature and countryside protection. Since 1991 all caves open to public in the Czech Republic have been in administration and care of the profesional organization of the state nature protection. The Punkva caves and the surrounding instructive pathways show the visitors the nature, its development and lawfulness. There is strict operational regime which limits the number and frequency of visitors and the caves are used for public and professional excersions. Sometimes music concerts take place in the Front cathedral or on the Macocha floor.
Next speleological research, documentation, micro-climatic, hydrochemic, geological and other research continue in the whole cave system. These types of research complete the study of the natural processes and man’s influence on the karst ecosystem. They make possible the professional regime of this extraordinal natural monument.
The microclimate research of these dynamic underground areas brings remarkable results as well as the diving research of the depth in the Macocha small lakes whose floors haven’t been reached yet.