Solkota Cave Natural Monument

Solkota Cave Natural Monument
IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)
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Nearest city	Tskaltubo
Coordinates	42°23′22.4″N 42°37′03.5″E
Area	0.0 km^2 (0 sq mi)
Established	2011
Governing body	Agency of Protected Areas
Website	სოლკოტას მღვიმის ბუნების ძეგლი

Solkota Cave Natural Monument (Georgian: სოლკოტას მღვიმე) is a karst cave 2.3 km to the north of village Kumistavi, known for nearby Prometheus Cave Natural Monument, in Tskaltubo Municipality in Imereti region of Georgia.[1] Cave is located on the left bank of river Semi, 379 meters above sea level.[2]

Morphology

Solkota Cave formed in Sataphlia-Tskaltubo karst massif.[3] Cave entrance is at the bottom of a well in a karst topography covered by vegetation. From here steep corridor expands to 10-15 m and morphs into horizontal floor that leads to a chamber with height of almost 30 m. Cave has an interesting diversity of chemical sediments, stalactites and stalagmites. Of particular interest are stalactites of 5 m thickness, size which is rare in Europe. Also notable is an 8 m high stalagmite with the circumference of 8.5 m at it bottom and 4.5 m in the middle.

Fauna

The inhabitants of the cave include Trachysphaera, Colchidoniscus, Laemostenus, Arrhopalites, Pygmarrhopalites, Plutomurus and Oxychilus.[3]

Paleontological findings

The cave is a paleontological and in particular a molecular paleontology monument. Solkota Cave stalagmites preserved ancient DNA molecules of mammals (bear, roe deer, bats) and plants (chestnut, hazelnut, flax).[4] Bones of cave bear has been found here.[5]

See also

• Prometheus Cave Natural Monument

References

1. Solkota Cave in Georgia Protected Planet
2. (in Georgian) სოლკოტას მღვიმის ბუნების ძეგლი
3. Barjadze, Sh., Arabuli, T., Mumladze, L., Maghradze, E., Asanidze, Z., Kutalia T. Solkota Cave 2019, Cave Biodiversity of Georgia, Open Access Database. Institute of Zoology at Ilia State University
4. Stahlschmidt, M.C., Collin, T.C., Fernandes, D.M. et al. Ancient Mammalian and Plant DNA from Late Quaternary Stalagmite Layers at Solkota Cave, Georgia. Sci Rep 9, 6628 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-43147-0
5. (in Georgian) ბუნების ძეგლი სოლკოტას მღვიმის ბუნების ძეგლი - წყალტუბო