uvala

1. A multi-coned closed depression; now little-used term of Croat, Serb or Bulgarian origin. The term was introduced to describe features assumed to be the second step in a 3-stage process of polje development, in which dolines were supposed to coalesce into uvalas. This mechanism is no longer accepted and the term uvala has fallen into disuse [9]. 2. Large closed depression formed by the coalescence of several dolines which have enlarged towards each other. Typically, the floor is irregular, being a combination of doline floors and degraded slopes of the individual hollows [19]. 3. A Yugoslavian term for an elongated closed depression in karst that is commonly dry or with periodical small sinking streams or inundations. They are generally a few hundred meters long and may be considered as a small polje [20]. Synonyms: (American.) compound doline; (French.) cuvala; (German.) Uvala; (Greek.) ouvala; (Italian.) avvalamento carsico, uvala; (Russian.) uvala; (Spanish.) uvala; (Turkish.) koyak; kokurdan; (Yugoslavian.) draga. See also canyon; karst valley; valley sink. Related to polje.