The largest area of crystalline limestone occurrence in the Kaczawskie Mountains is not Połom or Miłek near Wojcieszów, but the inconspicuous Wapniki (509 m) in the extreme eastern part of the Eastern Ridge, south of Jastrowiec. In the northern part of this massif, on the slopes of Wysoka (461 m), there is a hidden rock formation in the forest known as “Kozia Rock.” It takes the form of a rocky ridge about 50 m long and up to 7–8 m high on the northern side, where it descends with vertical, and even overhanging walls.
Local limestones were extensively exploited in the past, and the remnants of numerous former quarries are evidence of this. They are located, among other places, in Jastrowiec, along the road from Bolków to Jelenia Góra, and in the eastern part of the massif, along the road from Gorzanowice to Jastrowiec.
The walls of the quarries, sometimes reaching a height of up to 20 metres, reveal entrances to small widened karstic fissures. In the former Blaubruch quarry, there is an entrance to a cave with a length of about 5.5 metres. The geological curiosity is a travertine deposit in the upper part of the Przyłęcznica valley, formed by the precipitation of calcium carbonate at the springs. However, the construction of a drinking water intake has partially destroyed it.
In the Świekotka valley, there have been observations of periodic cessation of stream flow and the disappearance of water in ponor systems. In several places, there are ruins of limestone quarries, best exposed near the Roch brewery buildings, along the road from Bolków to Jelenia Góra.
Description: Piotr Migoń
