Engineering and environmental problems in karst areas

Krš je tip reljefa nastao otapanjem karbonatnih stijena. To su specifična geomorfološka, hidrogeološka te hidrološka područja oštrih oblika u kojem površinske i podzemne vode igraju važnu ulogu u kemijskom i erozijskom trošenju stijena. Osim što prekrivaju oko 20% ukupne svjetske kopnene površine te 50% površine Republike Hrvatske, iznimna važnost krških vodnih resursa očituje se i u tome što čine oko 25% zaliha pitke vode u svijetu. Zbog lake mogućnosti dospijevanja onečišćivala u krške vodonosnike i potencijalnog postojanja geohazarda u kršu, nepredvidivosti terena pri inženjerskim radovima te potencijalnog štetnog ljudskog djelovanja, krš je potrebno strogo zaštititi kad god je to potrebno te prije daljnjih aktivnosti dobro proučiti. Neprihvatljive antropogene aktivnosti u krškim područjima mogu ostaviti dugoročne posljedice na floru i faunu kao i na gospodarstvo što je tema ovog završnog rada.Karst is a type of relief created by the dissolution of carbonate rocks. They are specific geomorphological, hydrogeological and hydrological areas with sharp shapes in which surface and underground water plays the important role in the chemical weathering and erosion rocks. In addition to the fact that karst water resources cover about 20% of the world's total land surface and 50% of the surface of the Republic of Croatia, they are extremely important because they make up about 25% of the world's supply of drinking water. Since it is very easy for pollutants to reach karst aquifers and because of the presence of geohazards in the karst and the unpredictability of a terrain during engineering works as well as potentially harmful human activities, the karst must be strictly protected whenever is necessary and carefully studied before further activities. Unacceptable anthropogenic actions in karst areas can have long-term consequences for flora and fauna, as well as the economy, which is the topic of this master thesis