Gorjanovic Loess Section - Vukovar, Croatia - Places of Geologic Significance on Waymarking.com

The Gorjanovic loess section in Vukovar, Croatia is located along the Danube River. It is named after Dragutin Gorjanovic-Kramberger, Croatian scientist who conducted the first investigations of this site at the beginning of 20th century. It is protected as geological monument of nature since 2012.

The Gorjanovic loess section in Vukovar contains several collored layers, or paleosols (paleosol = a layer of fossilized soil), within yellow loess deposits. These loess - paleosol sequences represent evidence of various climatic changes that occured during the last 150,000 years. During that period of time Quaternary glaciation or the current ice age took place.

This loess section nicely illustrates what is going on during the ice age. There are periods of severe glacial conditions - yellow loess layers are remnants from those glacial periods. And there are warmer, interglacial periods - brown paleosol layers are remnants from those periods. There is also a weak grey layer of paleosol, the most upper of all paleosols. It was developed during the last glacial period as a result of various climatic fluctuations that took place during that period.

Loess is a type of material that is formed by wind activity, or as geologists would say it is an aeolian sediment. Loess can be of glacial or non-glacial origin. Loess at this location is a glacial one. It was formed during glacial periods. In these periods during the summer huge amounts of ice were melted down and huge areas were flooded. After the summer, in the autumn and winter, melting of ice ceased and flooded areas dried out. Once these areas become dry again the wind starts to carry away dry particles from these areas. These particles were then deposited further away in the direction of wind blowing.

During warmer, interglacial periods this periodic yearly ice melting ceased, the climate became warmer, loess formation slowly ceased, and soil formation slowly started to occur. Soil formation is entirely different process from loess formation process. Scientists say there are three different forces behind soil formation - climate, biology, and material. Climate function as a regulator of soil formation. Soil that is formed on top of loess deposits is not only of different origin, but also of different chemical composition. The final result is different color of paleosol layers when compared to loess layers.

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Waymark is confirmed to be publicly accessible: yes Parking Coordinates: N 45° 21.052 W 019° 00.320 Access fee (In local currency): .00 Requires a high clearance vehicle to visit.: no Requires 4x4 vehicle to visit.: no Public Transport available: no Website reference: [Web Link]

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