Evaporite karst and caves of Emilia Romagna

Evaporite karst and caves of Emilia Romagna Region is part of the Tentative list of Italy in order to qualify for inclusion in the World Heritage List.

The Evaporite Karst and Caves of Emilia Romagna Region consist of two different lithologies: Triassic anhydrites and Messinian gypsum. The anhydrite caves are the single epigenic ones in the world; they host the world's deepest anhydrite cave and the largest salt karst spring of Italy; some of the gypsum caves are among the world's deepest and longest epigenetic caves in these lithologies. Over 700 caves have been explored and mapped so far, moreover the rare geologic and karst landscapes are very important from an aesthetic point of view.