Skatviksgrottorna, Naturreservat

The Skatviksgrottorna nature reserve has been established to protect a pair of cave-like limestone formations, just next to Björskogsnäs.

Karst caves

When the water of the stream has flowed down the slope for thousands of years, the limestone has dissolved and cavities have formed. This phenomenon is called karst weathering. Karst can take the form of strange cavities, underground streams and lakes, depressions in the ground, caves and stalactites. In Sweden, most karst caves are found in the limestone bedrock along the mountain range. The most famous karst caves in the country are the touristy and magnificent Lummelunda Caves on Gotland. Compared to these, the Skatvik caves appear very small, but they are nevertheless the result of the same geological process. In the vicinity of the Skatvik caves is the Björskogsnäs nature reserve.

Mapped by cave researchers

Water today flows partly underground in two caves. There are also two dry caves where a stream once flowed. The longest cave is over 40 meters long but only half a meter high. The Skatvik caves have been known for a long time and were mapped by volunteer cave researchers as early as 1978.

Peculiar vegetation

The vegetation is special in the area thanks to the limestone. The rocks are home to unusual mosses and the rare little fern, the wallflower. The deciduous forest is home to wood anemones, thistle and violets. The moss flora is also distinctive thanks to the limestone. Here you can find rare mosses such as round-leaved moss and forest moss.

Accessibility

Skatviksgrottorna belongs to level 1 in the county administrative board's leveling of the county's nature reserves, which means that the reserve lacks outdoor recreation facilities.