description Murge Karst Overview
The Murge is a limestone karst plateau in Apulia, also called Puglia, in southern Italy. Its soluble limestone has produced dolines, caves, underground drainage, and dry valleys, making the area a distinctive karst landscape. In the Lamalunga Cave near Altamura, the largely complete fossil skeleton known as Altamura Man is generally identified as a Neanderthal and is commonly dated to around 130,000 years ago.
help Murge Karst FAQ
Where is the Murge Karst located?
The Murge is a limestone karst plateau in Apulia, also called Puglia, in southern Italy. Its landscape includes caves, dolines, dry valleys, and underground drainage created by soluble limestone.
What is special about Lamalunga Cave near Altamura?
Lamalunga Cave is known for the largely complete fossil skeleton called the Altamura Man. The cave is part of the distinctive karst environment around the Murge plateau.
How did the Murge landscape form?
Rainwater gradually dissolved the plateau's limestone, creating cavities, sinkholes, and underground routes for water. This process produced the dry valleys and caves characteristic of karst terrain.
Is the Murge the same area as Puglia?
The Murge is a geographic karst region within Apulia, the Italian region commonly called Puglia. Puglia is much larger than the Murge and includes coastlines, plains, and other landscapes.
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