The study area comprises the leveled lowland part of Bela krajina, bounded in the north and west by the karst plateaus of Gorjanci and Kočevski Rog, and in the south and east by the Kolpa River canyon. The aim of this master’s thesis is to describe the geomorphological characteristics and to calculate the geodiversity index of Bela krajina. The research is based on an analysis of the literature and previous studies, which served as the theoretical framework. By combining desk-based and fieldwork methods, a morphographic and morphometric analysis was carried out, along with a description of characteristic karst phenomena in the study area. The results show that the Bela krajina plain is composed of highly diverse karst forms, resulting from the interplay of tectonic, lithological, and karst processes. The deep karst is reflected in the pronounced absence of surface waters and a high density of dolines, whereas the shallow karst is characterized by canyons and karst depressions with surface water at their bottoms. Fluviokarst occurs where the substratum consists of less permeable rocks, which enable the formation of permanent or intermittent streams. This work represents an important contribution to the understanding of karst landforms in the Bela krajina plain and provides a useful basis for further geomorphological, hydrological, and speleological research.
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