Geomorphic investigations in the Medves Area, North Hungary

The Medves Area lies close to the Hungarian-Slovak boundary in North Hungary. Having "horst-graben-type" geological structure it can be characterised by steeply emerging horst-like hills and between them narrow trenches and deeply dissected erosional valleys. The recent morphology of the Medves Area is determined by four main elements: the structure, the petrographic setting, the exo-genic processes and the anthropogenic effects. In spite of the domination of the Oligocene-Miocene sedimentary rocks great part of the area is covered by Pliocene basalts having either stratovolcanic structure or consisting of only lavas, forming lavaplateaus, small cones, dykes or necks. In spite of the strong denudation their original form dominates yet. The decrease of the sheet of the Medves Plateau was considerable only on the rims by parallel retreat. In the southern part of the Medves Area the evolution of the landscape was determined mainly by exogenic processes. The great density of the valleys is very significant, but it is interesting that many tributary valleys are dry valleys, which can be explained by neotectonic movements and young captures. Anthropogenic forms are very frequent in the Medves Area, where the change of the natural environment caused by human activity is above average. Especially the landscape forming effects of the mining of basalt and browncoal and that of the related industry and infrastructure changed the surface. Very interesting are the depressions on the surface caused by collapse of underground galleries, moreover sometimes trench-like deep fissures came into being.