Pulo di Altamura, Natural karst formation in Altamura, Italy.
Pulo di Altamura is a natural sinkhole in Altamura, southern Italy, with steep walls dropping roughly 75 meters into a depression about 500 meters across. Several cave openings dot the floor, forming a network of passages and chambers beneath the surface.
The formation took shape over millions of years through karst processes, as water slowly dissolved and hollowed the limestone rock. Carmelo Colamonico conducted the first scientific study in 1917, documenting how this geological creation came to be.
The three caves in the northern section carry names rooted in local folklore: Grotta del Colombo, Grotta dell'Imbroglio, and Grotta dell'Orco. They contain visible traces of prehistoric settlement that tell stories about how people once used these spaces.
The northern wall attracts climbers and cave explorers, who find multiple access points for investigation. Wear sturdy shoes and move carefully, as the paths can be uneven and slippery.
The special moisture and temperature along the walls create a unique habitat for plants and animals found nowhere else on the Murge plateau. These conditions make the site a quiet refuge for rare species.
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