Apolje, also calledkarst polje orkarst field,[1][2][3] is a large flat plain found inkarstic geological regions of the world, with areas usually in the range of 5–400 km2 (2–154 sq mi). The name derives from theSlavic languages,[4][5] wherepolje literally means 'field', whereas in Englishpolje specifically refers to a karst plain or karst field.
A polje, in geological terminology,[6] is a large, flat-floored depression within karst limestone, whose long axis develops in parallel with major structural trends and can become several miles (tens of kilometers) long. Superficial deposits tend to accumulate along the floor. Drainage may be either by surface watercourses (as anopen polje) or byswallow holes (as aclosed polje) orponors. Usually, the ponors cannot transmit entire flood flows, so many poljes become wet-season lakes. The structure of some poljes is related to the geological structure, but others are purely the result of lateral dissolution andplanation. The development of poljes is fostered by any blockage in the karst drainage.[6]
A polje covers the flatbottomed lands of closed basins[6] which may extend over large areas, up to 1,000 km2. The flat floor of a polje may consist of bare limestone, of a nonsoluble formation (as with rolling topography), or of soil. A polje typically shows complex hydrogeological characteristics such asexsurgences,estavelles, swallow holes, andlost rivers. In colloquial use, the term "polje" designates flat-bottomed lands which are overgrown or are under cultivation. TheDinaricKarst has many poljes.[6]
They are mostly distributed in subtropical and tropical latitudes but some also appear in temperate or, rarely, boreal regions. Usually covered with thicksediments, called "terra rossa", they are used extensively for agricultural purposes.
Somepoljes of theDinaric Alps are inundated during the rainy winters and spring seasons as masses of water calledizvor orvrelo appears at the margins. The water disappears through shafts calledponor.
Prominent karst poljes areLivanjsko polje (about 60 km long and 7 km wide),Glamočko Polje,Grahovsko Polje,Drvarsko Polje,Duvanjsko Polje, Kupreška Visoravan(Kupres Highlands),Popovo Polje, Dabarsko Polje,Nevesinjsko Polje andGatačko Polje inBosnia and Herzegovina;Logatec,Planina, andCerknica Polje inSlovenia;Grahovsko Polje andNikšićko Polje inMontenegro;Ličko Polje andKrbava inLika,Croatia;Begovo Pole inNorth Macedonia and Odorovsko polje.[7]
In Portugal, the town ofMinde is located in a landscape of intensive karst. In the summer the polje is fertile fields, in winter, in case of heavy rain, a temporary lake.
The formerLake Copais inBoeotia, Greece, fed subterranean channels (some artificial) until a 1957 land reclamation project drained it completely.
In its original languages, the word is synonymous withinterior valley. The wordpolje (Cyrillic:поље) itself is ofSlavic origin (best known as the root for the countryPoland,Polska, from thePolish wordpole 'field'). English borrowedpolje fromSlovene[6] orSerbo-Croatian (Cyrillic:поље,pronounced[pôʎe]).[8][9] The equivalent in neighbouringMacedonian andBulgarian ispole (поле), and inRussian it ispolye (поле).[6] As a borrowing, apart from English it can be found in a number of languages including:French,German,Greek,Italian,Spanish andTurkish (which usespolye).
The word polje in Slavic languages means a flat field with arable soil.
The typical polje (a Slavic word meaning 'field') ...
Dinaric Alps' karst fields | ||
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| Bosnia and Herzegovina |  | |
| Croatia | ||
| Kosovo | ||
| Montenegro | ||
| Serbia | ||
| Slovenia | ||
