One of the most interesting aspects of karst in this portion of
Cilento is the abundance of natural caves found at sea level (or
just below sea level) on one hand, and a relatively limited number
of inland caves on the other.
This fact is connected with the peculiarities of the area's morphologic
evolution and, mainly, with the fact that coastal caves appear
to have had a peculiar kind of evolution. Sea caves in the area
are of mixed types: originated from mixtures of sea and karst
water, they have been widened by the destructive power of the
ocean. The activity of the sea prevents the accumulation of sediments,
which typically occlude many of the caves found in the inland
area.
A cave to the south of Cala Longa
Sea caves are widespread along the entire coast. Proceeding from
west to east, behind Cala del Cefalo beach, we find a sequence
of caves and shelters situated at an altitude of about 5-10 metres.
Even though they are situated some tens of metres away from the
present strand line, their mixed origin is evident. The first
caves to be met by the sea are found along the area of Capo Grosso
and, again, in the area around the Calanca beach and the beach
to the east of Camerota.
In this area, the karst phenomenon takes on a new, different and
very interesting aspect. Some of the caves in this area (Grotta
della Cala, Grotta del Poggio, Grotta della Serratura) have housed
very important prehistoric settlements, which have been the subject
of scientific research for many years now.
The two entrances to the Grotta di
Pozzallo in
Cala Bianca
Interesting caves are found along the coastal strip from Cala
Fortuna and Cala Monte di Luna, while further down, at the mouth
of Cala Bianca, is one of the best known caves, called Due Portali
or Pozzallo, with an overall length of one hundred metres.
Further down the coast is again a sequence of caves the openings
of which are either at sea level or a few metres above sea level.
Some of these have wide portals and are easily identifiable; some
of them are actually very large in size (like Grotta Cannone or
Grotta degli Innamorati, 115 metres long, a little North of Infreschi).
In total, the coastal strip from Camerota to Marcellino houses
more than 50 caves.
Caves along the Palinuro - Camerota road
One of the large caves along the road
that leads from Palinuro to Marina di Camerota
No account of the karst phenomenon in this area of Cilento would
be complete if it failed to describe the numerous caves that open
onto the road from Palinuro to Marina di Camerota. These caves
fall into the broad category of coastal caves (even though they
are today found a few metres above sea level) and have the following
features in common: wide chambers, mostly with concretions, floor
deposits - mainly sandy - and a lack of (or very poor) water activity.
The Grotta Caprara (the name itself - "capra" means goat - reveals
that the cave was used as a sheep-pen through the years) has now
been converted into a discotheque but the structures testifying
to the use of caves as shelters for sheep and goats are still
preserved in the Grotta dell'Autaro, also housing a rich colony
of bats.
Many caves can be found around the area of Torre Muzza; the largest
one is approximately 50 metres long.
The caves around Capo Grosso
The area around
Capo Grosso
The area around capo Grosso consists of small rocky promontories
following one another as far as the Calanca beach. The area is
characterised by a rocky wall connecting to an almost flat area,
at about 20-30 metres of altitude, where evidence of prehistoric
settlements can be found.
Shafts have been identified in the promontory, which are connected
to the karst systems occur ring at sea level. One of these shafts,
the most interesting in fact, consists of a 10x7 m. chamber, only
partly occupied by sea water, from which two galleries depart.
The left gallery is about twenty metres long, whereas the right
gallery, with a NE-SW direction, is over 60 metres long, with
a consistent height of 3 metres and width in many places as narrow
as 40 cm.
The Noglio
The entrance
The entrance seen
from the inside
With its impressive portal, split in two by a huge pillar-shaped
concretion, this is one of the best-known caves on the coast.
But its most attractive feature is the abundance of deposits from
a prehistoric settlement. The first part of the cave is partially
invaded by the sea and is covered by large rockfall stones. Here
is where lenses of ossiferous breccia remain (these are constituted
by cemented karstic deposits rich in sub-fossil bone fragments,
possible evidence of leftover food). The second part of the cave,
also with a very high ceiling, goes steeply up hill and its floor
is covered by a massive sandy deposit. The overall length of the
cave is approximately 60 metres and positive relief is 12.
Santa Maria
Details of the inner features
of the Grotta di Santa Maria
A little beyond Cala Bianca, we find this interesting cave, the
concretions of which are among the richest in the area.
The entrance is 6 metres above sea level. A wide portal leads
to a chamber where some rockfall stones can be found.
The chamber gradually narrows and forms a constricted passage
thick with stalactites, stalagmites and huge columns.
At the end of the passage is a kind of balcony overlooking a lake
of seawater. This lake is actually connected to the sea through
a siphon.
Caves around Infreschi
The inside of one of the
Infreschi caves
One of the prettiest coves along the Italian coast line is the
Infreschi, a natural harbour. Several natural caves are nestled
among its rocks. Anybody swimming along the coastline in this
bay will realise that the water temperature varies rather frequently.
This phenomenon is directly linked with the presence of several
fresh water springs a few metres below the sea level. It is quite
easy to locate these springs. As the spring is approached, the
water suddenly becomes blurred because of the mixing of fluids
with different temperature and density. Fishermen have exploited
this feature in the past. They used one of the wide caves of the
area as refrigerated storage place for tuna fish.
Undersea caves
The area of the natural Infreschi harbour
and the entrances from to some of the several caves around
Undersea caves are also an important feature in this area. As
well as active resurgences, these caves include fossil caves.
Their opening is found below the present sea level. The presence
of these karst systems is a clear indication of the complex evolution
of the territory. The caves formed during a phase of emergence
and only later did they develop undersea as a result of the rising
of the sea level and/or the simultaneous lowering of the area.
It is interesting to note that this phenomenon has occurred many
times in the history of the area with emergence and submergence
alternating.
Many of the caves we have described have sub merged sections.
A bizarre example is a cave in Cala de Monti, the entrance to
which is situated a few decimetres below the sea level. To enter
the cave you have to swim underwater holding your breath for a
short while but once inside you find dry stretches as well. A
couple of other caves, one hundred metres North of Infreschi,
also exemplify quite well the characteristics of these undersea
caves.
The Risorgiva di Punta Infreschi, for instance, is 2 metres below
sea level and consists of a gallery, approximately 35 metres long,
with two sep a rate entrances. At the end of the gallery is a
small, fresh water spring coming out of two sep a rate mouths.
South of this cave, 16 metres below sea level and about 50 metres
away from the coast, is a wide cave housing a 5 metre high chimney
with rich concretions. The bottom is made up of a mixture of silt
and clay deposits.
