Български
Caves
Here you will find information regarding the caves, which are to be visited during the conference.
Please, follow the links to access the details of the interesting for you cave.
Dryanovski Monastery
Length 3500 m. Denivelation 65 m
Coordinates: N 42° 56' 50,5'' E 25° 25'
54,7''
A cave, 150 m from Dryanovski Monastery
and 50 m from the cave Andâka. Formed in Lower
Cretaceous limestone. A complex labyrinth
of galleries, developed in four main levels and connecting
ca. 12 chambers, the biggest and the
highest of which is Srutishteto (25x18 m), reaching its maximum
height in Dazhdovnata Zala. Minimum
dimensions along the profile of the main galleries – 0.30 x 0.60
m, maximum – 12 x 30 m. Main direction
NE-SW. Diversity of flowstone and other cave formations. On
the floor of the lower level galleries of
the cave there are thick clay formations, on the upper storeys –
mainly river gravel from the earliest
stages of the cave formation – ca. 1.8 million years ago.
Archaeological excavations in the cave
revealed artefacts from the following cultures: Middle
Paleolythicum – Moustier – 47 000 years
ago; Late Paleolythicum – Orygnac (over 43 000 years ago);
Neolythicum and Eneolythicum. Remains of Homo sapiens dating back to more than 43 000 years ago
have been discovered and also fossil fauna
(bones of 21 species of small mammals from the Upper
Pleistocene and from 11 species of large
mammals). The cave was first recorded by H. Škorpil (1884).
Explored on May 19, 1890 by St. Yurinich –
up to 143 m. First archaeological explorations in 1920 and
1924 by R. Popov. Map of entrance parts
(60 m) published by N. Radev (1926), who visited the cave in
1923 and 1925. In 1937 and 1938 other explorations
were done by R. Popov and by the American D.
Garod. Survey of the cave in 1966 by
cavers from Planinets, Sofia Caving Club (up to 2400 m).
Research has been carried out also by
cavers from Strinava, Dryanovo Caving Club, bringing the cave to
its present length. In 1971–1976,
Polish-Bulgarian archaeological excavations took place. Geomorphologically
studied by V. Popov and Iv. Vaptsarov
(1972). Partly electrified in 1937 (the first Bulgarian
show cave). In 1964 the tourist circuit
was increased to 450 m.
Declared Natural Monument with the
adjacent 0.5 ha in 1962. Declared Monument of Culture
in 1971.
Fauna: 28 species, including the
troglobite Netolitzkya
jeanneli jeanneli (Coleoptera).
Devetaki Village, Lovech Distr.
Length 2442 m
Coordinates: N 43° 14' 05.2" E 24°
53' 23.2"
A cave, which is 1,5 km NW of Devetaki on
the right bank of Ossam and on the northern slope of
Devetaki Plateau. Formed in
Aptian-Urgonian limestone. Entrance with a semi-elliptic shape of 30 x 35
m. The gallery widens into a colossal
chamber (25 000 m2) with height of the
ceiling up to 58 m. The
chamber is lit by seven holes, called
“okna”, the biggest (cave) one (Kilika) being 73 x 48 m. The
volume of the chamber is 800 000 m3, making it the biggest cave chamber in
Bulgaria. A stream runs in
the cave, forming deep pools and huge
sinters.
First studied in 1921 by G. Katzarov, who
discovered artefacts. In 1925–1928, several times
explored by Pavel Petrov. He sailed the
cave river on wooden boats and made hydrogeological
observations, surveying the cave. In
1950–1952, the archaeologists V. Mikov and N. Djambazov
excavated the entrance hall and discovered
cultural layers from many periods – Middle and Late
Paleolith and Neolith, the Iron and Bronze
Age and from Roman times.
The cave is considered to be the richest
and most representative site of different prehistoric
cultures in Southeast Europe. In 1967, the
cave was declared a Monument of Culture of National
Importance (Decree 238/07.06.1996 with the
adjacent 14.1 ha).
Fauna: 21 known species, including the
Isopod Trichoniscus
tenebrarum, the Amphipod Niphargus
bureschi, and the Centipede Lithobius tiasnatensis (= popovi)(Chilopoda).
Trigrad Village, Smolyan Distr.
Altitude 1150 m Lenght 480 m Denivelation
89 m
Coordinates: N 41° 36' 46" E 24° 22'
53"
A pothole in Proterozoan marble, at the
beginning of the spectacular Trigrad Gorge, 1.5 km from
Trigrad Village. A large entrance leads
into the first shaft (diaclase of 51 m). The entrance waterfall is 34
m high, now avoided by using an iron
ladder, leads to a big chamber, called “Roaming” (100 x 40 m). In
the pothole, there are 15 waterfalls, all
of them terminated by evorsion cauldrons. From the end of the
Big Chamber to the end of Dyavolskoto
Garlo, 272 m of horizontal galleries have been surveyed,
intersected by 13 cataracts, 0.60 to 8 m
high, with a total denivelation of 38 meters. In this part a dingy
is needed. When in flood, the amount of
water entering the pothole is over 2300 l/s. In the dry period,
this quantity is about 300–320 l/s.
In the summer of 1961, N. Korchev and his
group undertook the first attempt to penetrate
Djavolskoto Gârlo, but the difficulties
were too many for the technique of that time. In 1969, 7 cavers
from Cherni Vrâh Caving Club (Sofia), led
by A. Petkova, reached the bottom (V. Gogov and V. Kitov).
Two divers drowned in the end siphon in
1970 A dangerous system, requiring good equipment and
skilled cavers. A show cave, which is open
all year round.
Gorsko Slivovo Village, Lovech Distr.
Length 273 m. Denivelation -50 m
Coordinates: N 43° 12' 43.2'' E 25° 02'
56.7''
A pothole, 1.2 km NW of Gorsko Slivovo, in
the NE periphery of Devataki Plateau.
The entrance opens at the bottom of an
elliptical funnel (34 x 17 m). A shaft of the same shape and
dimensions follows and a depth of 34 m.
Bottom covered with stones. In the SE part, there is a short
gallery, ending in a lake siphon. An
inclined gallery goes NW (17 m wide and with a height of up to 15 m).
At the 35th meter, the gallery is transformed into a chamber (35 x 45 x 6 m). On the NE
the chamber
gradually lowers into a gallery, which
after 30 m becomes wider. A pyriform chamber follows which has
the following dimensions: length 60 m,
width up to 30 m and height up to 19 m. The floor of the
galleries is covered with thick clay
deposits, angular stones and separate stone blocks. The cave is poor
in flowstone formations. During rain and
snow melting, from the lake siphon comes a considerable
amount of water, flowing along the
galleries and draining in the end chamber.
The cave was explored and surveyed first
by G. Yanchev and S. Penchev in 1966 during a National
Cave Expedition. In the 80s, at the
initiative of P. Petrov and P. Stefanov of the Institute of Geography
(BAS), cavers from Viten Caving Club, R.
Mazalat Sevlievo Tourist Society, mounted a metal staircase
and platforms, allowing access to the
bottom of the entrance shaft. At the same time, the entrance was
fenced and on the bottom a station for complex
karstological research was installed.
Vratsa Town
Altitude 830 m. Length 226 m. Denivelation
-14 m, 16 m
Coordinates: N 43° 12' 35.6" E 23°
29' 34.8"
A cave in Upper Jurassic limestone
Jurassic, 16 km from Vratsa, in the Vratsa Predbalkan. A dirt
road goes to the cave, which is situated
on the bottom of a huge uvala. The whole area is with such
uvalas, flanked by a beech forest. There
is a hut (Ledenika), 300 m from the cave, with 115 beds. In
1987, immediately in front of the cave, a
small building was built for the visitors. The visitors’ center of
the park Vrachanski Balkan is situated in
it.
The cave has two entrances. A stone
staircase leads to the first chamber (Predverieto, 21 x 3 m).
The lowest part of the hall, called
Valchata Dupka (The Wolf’s Den), is also the lowest part of the cave.
A low gallery, 11 m long, called
Plaznyata, connects Predverieto with Malkata Zala. Malkata Zala (The
Small Chamber) has dimensions 21 x 17 m
and a height of 5 m.
After a 6-m gallery, we reach the biggest
and most beautiful chamber of the cave – Konzertnata
(Golyamata) Zala. Its dimensions are 60 x
45 m and the height is 23 m. In it, there are huge and majestic
flowstone formations.
In the highest part of the chamber, behind
the flow, another hole is situated, called Hladilnika, with
dimensions 21 x 10 m and a height of 4 m.
It is also filled with beautiful formations and a small sinter
lake.
From the Konzertna Zala, an ascendant
gallery leads to “Malkata Propast”, 13 m long and 9 m
deep. At the highest point of the ascendant
gallery, the temperature changes from 7–8° in Malkata
Propast to 9,6O in the highest part of the cave, called
Sedmoto Nebe. A narrow gallery connects Malkata
Propast and Golyamata Propast (15 m long
and 12 m deep). The gallery of the Curtains follows, which
is 27 m long, 15 m wide and 17 m high.
This gallery is also full of stalactites and other flowstone
formations of different dimension and
shape. After Prohoda na Greshnitsite (The Pass of Sinners), the
White Chamber (18 x 15 m and 17 m high)
and Sedmoto Nebe (the end part of the cave) follow. They are
also richly adorned.
The cave had been known to the local
population since time unrecorded. The shepherds used to
keep milk in its cool entrance part. In
the winter, from November to March, when the temperature in
these parts drops below 0oC, in the Atrium and in the Small hall,
transparent and milk-white masses of
ice accumulate. They have been studied by
the geomorphologist Vl. Popov since 1962. Data about the
cave can be found in the publications of
H. and K. Škorpil (1895) and Zh. Radev (1915).
Protected by virtue of Decree 2810 /1963.
Show cave since September 17, 1961.
Fauna. In this cave, the first systematic
research on the cave fauna of Bulgaria started (by Dr I.
Buresch and his associates in 1922). So
far, 53 species have been identified, including 10 troglobites or
stygobites: Speocyclops infernus (Copepoda), Bulgarosoma bureschi (Diplopoda), Tricyphoniscus
bureschi (Isopoda), Paranemastoma (Buresiolla) bureschi (Opiliones), Onychiurus sensitivus, Pseudosinella
duodecimocellata (Collembola), Pheggomisetes buresi, Ph. radevi,
Rambousekiella ledenikensis
(Coleoptera, Carabidae), Radevia hanusi (Col. Cholevidae).
Kotel Town, Sliven Distr.
Length 3200 m. Denivelation -130 m
A cave pothole, ten kilometers west of
Kotel, in the locality Zelenich, on the left bank of Suhoyka
River. Formed in Cretaceous (Maastricht)
limestone. It starts with a 37-m shaft, leading into a high and
narrow, descending and meandering gallery,
broken by small verticals. This part ends in a water siphon.
Several meters before it, a low and narrow
dry gallery starts. On the upper floor, bone fossils from Ursus
spelaeus (Cave bear) were found. During extreme
rains and snow melting, the surface waters enter the
cave, forming an underground river along
the central gallery which sinks into the end siphon.
The cave was discovered by cavers from
Lucifer Târgovishte Caving Club in 1992, following
information from local people. In 1993,
after digging, a branch at the end of the central gallery was
found. Up to 1995 it had been completely
surveyed and explored by the same club.
Dryanovski Monastery
Altitude 280 m. Length ca. 4000 m
Coordinates: N° 42 56’ 52,5" E 25°
25’ 54,1"
A cave, 150 m west of the St. Archangel
Mikhail monastery, in the eastern periphery of the karstic
plateau Strazhata. Formed in Lower
Cretaceous limestone.
A horizontal cave with large chambers
through which an underground stream runs.
The cave is situated at the end of the ?
canyon of Andaka River. The name of the cave and the river
come from the large entrance (Andak =
Hendek = pothole), which was closed for the construction of a
water cleaning station in 1946. The
entrance of the cave faces east (ca. 25 m high and ca. 40 m wide). In
the entrance hall there is a water
cleaning station, which provided drinking water to Dryanovo up to
1979. The cave has developed in Cretaceous
limestone (Apt – Urgon – Barem complex) of the syncline
karstic plateau Strazhata, the main
direction being NE-SW. In the cave there is an underground river
(min outflow ca. 15 l/s).
The connection of this cave with the caves
near Dolni Varpishta village (1 km S-SW, 475 m
altitude) and with some ponors near Donino
Village (7 km SW, 550–600 m altitude) has been proven, as
well as with the karstic valley near
Kostenkovtsi Village (2 km NW, 650 m altitude).
These indisputable, but yet unpenetrated
connections, prove the existence of a huge cave complex.
We could divide the cave in three parts,
according to their discovery.
The Older part – up to the Second siphon,
surveyed in 1974–1976, is on two levels, with
labyrinthine galleries, an indisputable
part of Bacho Kiro – Andaka System. Proven, but yet
unpenetrated, is the connection with
Vodnata (Kazana) in Dolni Varpishta Village. Three streams with
different water temperature come from the
left side and join the main river.
At the beginning the new parts represent
low galleries with small branches, ending in three large
chambers. The galleries have developed on
the right and above the main river. Coming from the right
(direction Kostenkovtsi), there are two
streams running across the galleries, one of them being a sink of
Andaka River. Further, the cave goes on
with high galleries, giving access to the main river in a wide and
low chamber with siphons on both ends.
The newest parts, also on the right side
of the river, are still under study and survey.
The cave is poor in flowstone formations.
In some chambers, there is a high content of CO2 up to
4 % (description of Vanyo Stanev).
First mentioned by St. Yurinich in 1891.
Excavations at the entrance by R. Popov in 1920 and in
1937. First registered research by N.
Radev on October 28, 1923. In May 1924, Iv. Buresch and D.
Ilchev collected cave fauna. N. Radev
published (1926) a survey of the first 100 m. In 1966, Planinets,
Sofia, surveyed another 1800 m of the
cave. Under the care of Strinava, Dryanovo Caving Club, the
known length of the cave increased to 3200
m in 1977 and to 4000 m in 1984.
Fauna: 16 species, including the troglobite Trichoniscus tenebrarum (Isopoda).
Krushuna Village, Lovech Distr.
Length 1995 m
Coordinates: N 43° 14' 33.2" E 25° 02'
09.2"
A source cave, 1.5 km S of Krushuna, in
the N periphery of Devetaki Plateau, Middle Predbalkan.
Formed in Lower Cretaceous (Aptian)
limestone. A branched, ascending and permanently water cave.
Up to 230 m, the entrance gallery is
directed N, then it turns W and goes for 100 m in this direction,
being up to 7 m wide. The main gallery
receives three galleries one after the other, one branch, wide up
to 6 m, abducts the cave water inward and
ends in a siphon. About 90 m before the end of the western
sector, the main gallery takes a N
direction and after 80 m it bends NW and ends in a siphon. Sinter
walls, which dam the big lakes, are
typical. Vodopada and the connected Boninska Peshtera drain the
northern part of Devetashko Plateau.
Average annual outflow of the source 100 l/s. Up to 1965, only 160
m (before the siphon) were known. During
the Bulgarian – Hungarian Expedition in 1965, P. Moczari
penetrated the siphon and discovered a
continuation, thus bringing the cave’s length to 1775 m. In 1971,
a Bulgarian National Expedition surveyed
another 200 m and the known length became 1995 m. In
1995, the caver and diver from Pleven Kr.
Petkov (Studenets Pleven Caving Club) penetrated another 30
meters of siphon in one of the branches
and, after 200 m, reached another siphon.
Fauna: 18 species known, the only
troglobite being Pseudosinella
duodecimocellata (Collembola)
Boningskata (Popskata)
Krushuna Village, Lovech Distr.
Altitude 279 m. Length 4530 m.
Denivelation -22 m
Coordinates: N 43° 14' 25.4" E 25°
02' 53.8''
A water cave, 2,5 km SE of Krushuna, on
the southern slope of Slivov Dol, the north periphery of
Devetaki Plateau. Formed in Aptian
limestone (Lower Cretaceous). Entrance – 7,5 x 3,8 m, followed by
a dry horizontal gallery, 280 m long. An
underground stream in the main gallery, about 800 m E and 80
m W of it. Both ends finish with siphons.
After the siphon, there is an upstream gallery, which is 515 m
long. It goes downstream with one
half-siphon and three siphons, which are 5, 20 and 4 m long
respectively and are followed by a1100-m
gallery and a new siphon. Rich in flowstone. The river goes
further through the source cave Vodopada
(average outflow 10 dm3/sec). Until 1972,
only the river part
was known. In the period 1974-75, the
cavers of Studenets, Pleven Caving Club, explored and surveyed
2753 m. In 1978, during the International
expedition Druzhba’88, another 133 m, downstream from the
semi-siphon, were mapped. In 1985-87,
divers from the same club penetrated the three siphons
downstream and brought the length of the
cave to 4015 m. After 1990, the same team overcame the
upstream siphon, adding another 515 m and
the cave reached its actual length.
Fauna: so far 14 species known, including
the stygobite Amphipod Niphargus ablaskiri georgievi
and the troglobites Trichoniscus garevi (Isopoda) and Typhloiulus georgievi (Diplopoda).
Malkata yama
Cherni Ossam Village, Lovech Distr.
Altitude 1333 m. Length 700 m.
Denivelation -232 m
Coordinates: N 42° 46' 03.2" E 24°
41' 02"
A cave pothole in the Steneto Biosphere
Reserve. Entrance on the right bank of Malak Chaushov
Dol. Formed in Trias limestone and
dolomites.
A cascade pothole cave with two bigger
verticals of 15 and 36 m. At 127 m, there is a huge
chamber, over 50 m high, called The Big
Hall. It is inclined and full with boulders, some of them having
a volume of over 400 m3.
An underground stream with an outflow of
1–40 l/s. T° 7 °C.
Discovered in 1969 by Troyan cavers V.
Balevski and A. Borov. Surveyed and described by T.
Daaliev, N. Gladnishki, V. Balevski and A.
Pencheva during the International Caving Expedition
Troyan‘72.
Pticha dupka
Cherni Ossâm Village, Lovech Distr.
Altitude 1260 m. Length 652 m.
Denivelation -108 m
A pothole in Steneto Biosphere Reserve.
The entrance in Trias limestone and dolomite opens
north of Rediya Trap in a beech forest.
Two entrances on a steep slope. It starts with a vertical of 70 m.
The bottom is oval in shape, there are
blocks covered with earth from the surface. After two other
verticals, the true bottom is reached, and
still the light from the entrance can be seen. A small stream,
two galleries, an ascending one, which
goes west, and a descending one, going east. Total length of
the descending gallery 302 m. In the last
chamber, flowstone formations are concentrated. There is a
sinter lake with blue water and yellow
cave pearls and stone lilies complete the beauty of this
chamber. Its total length is 100 m. Length
of the ascending gallery 350 m. A variable stream at the
bottom of the horizontal gallery.
First studied by Polish speleologists (T.
Uminski and others, September 1957). In July 1962, the
cavers Hr. Delchev, St. Andreev and P.
Neykovski from Akademik Sofia Caving Club explored and
surveyed the pothole.
Some days before the start of the
Republican Expedition Troyan -72 V. Balevski and V. Markov
discovered a prolongation with the most
beautiful chamber of Pticha Dupka. N. Gladnishki, V. Balevski,
P. Petrov and T. Daaliev surveyed and
described the pothole during the expedition Troyan’75.
Troglobites and stygobites: Niphargus bureschi (Amphipoda), Anamastigona alba (Diplopoda).
Troglophile: Spinophalus uminskii (Gastropoda).
The pothole is situated within the
boundaries of Central Balkan National Park.
Machanov trap
Zdravkovets Village, Gabrovo Distr.
Length 1907 m. Denivelation -27 m (-21; 6
m). Surface 8000 m2. Volume 15 000 m3
A cave, 0.5 km W of Zdravkovets, in the
area called Bucheto, NW part of Strazhata Plateau,
Middle Predbalkan. Formed in the contact
zone between Lower Cretaceous sandstone and mergels and
the under laying Aptain limestone. A
branched, four-storey, water cave. Different shape of the cross
sections: triangular, trapezoid,
rectangular. Average dimensions of the galleries: width 3.65, height 2.37
m. Five bigger chambers, the most spacious
one is 39x10x10 m. Many sinters and flowstone. Boulders
in the lower levels. A permanent stream
entering the cave (ponor). Four side streams sink together into a
siphon in the lowest part. Water inflow
measured in the period November 6 – December 17, 1983,
between 0.18 and 0.9 l/s.
The cave was known to the local people.
Studied and surveyed by cavers from Viten Speleoclub
(Rossitsa – Mazalat) in the period
1981–1995.
Yagodinska cave
Yagodina Village, Smolyan Distr.
Length 8501 m. Denivelation -36 m
Coordinates: N 41 37' 27.9" E 24 19'
30"
The cave is the longest in the Rhodopes
and the third in length in Bulgaria. It is formed in
Proterozoan marble, three kilometers SW of
Jagodina, on the right bank of Buyanovska river. The
natural entrance of the cave is 30 m
higher than the river bed. The artificial entrance of the cave was dug
out one kilometer upstream. A twostorey,
labyrinthine cave system. There are large and small
speleothems of different shapes in the
galleries and chambers.
The entrance gallery leads into the atrium
with a depth of 15 m and denivelation of 27 m. This is
the connection with the lower part. After
descending the pitch, we reach the 600 m gallery, called D.
Sabev, connecting with the Tourist gallery
and the Northern Sector. As a table, the sectors have the
following dimensions:
First storey – 1176 m, 3939 m2, 8470 m3
Northern sector – 1343 m, 3984 m2, 18 492 m3
Southwestern Labyrinth – 2720 m, 10 662 m2, 20 365 m3
South Labyrinth – 3061 m, 6948 m2, 10 123 m3
Total – 8501 m, 23 535 m2, 57 450 m3
When the water of Buynovska River rises,
part of them sink into the lower part of the cave (last
case in 1990) T° 8 °C.
The cave has been known to local people
forever, sheltering people from the Eneolith to recent
time. In 1928, the first excavations were
attempted by V. Mikov. Later, the cave was visited by another
Bulgarian archaeologist (Petar Detev) who
excavated the entrance chamber.
Speleological research of the cave started
in 1964 by cavers from Chepelare. The total length, mapped
in 1964–1965 by D. Raichev and D. Sabev,
was 6455 m. In 1965–1966, the Smolyan Museum (under M.
Deyanova) organized archaeological
excavations. They discovered artefacts from the Eneolith time. After a
special survey in 1969–1973, the cave was
opened as a show cave in 1982. The tourist circuit (through two
artificial tunnels) is two kilometers
long. There are beautiful speleothems all the way (stalactites,
stalagmites, sinter lakes, cave pearls,
leopard skin and others). Pottery paint in yellow, red and black.
The fauna includes known species, among
them the troglobite Troglodicus
meridionale (Diplopoda),
described from this cave.
Chudnite mostove
Village Zabardo, Smolyan Distr.
Altitude 1490 m. Length 107 m.
Denivelation -16.5 m
Coordinates: N 41° 49' 08.7" E 24°
34' 58"
The natural phenomenon Chudnite Mostove is
situated 3.71 km N-NW of Zabardo village, in the
middle part of the valley Aydarski Dol,
mountain massif Chernatitsa.
Formed in Proterozoan marbles. A system of
two rock bridges, 70 m from each other – Upper
(Goren) and Lower (Dolen). The upper one
is 51 m long and is developed westwards. The entrance faces
E and has the following dimensions – width
11 and height 27 m. The other entrance is 52 m wide and 51
m high (the highest cave entrance in
Bulgaria). The entrance of the lower rock bridge (Dolnata Peshtera)
is triangular and has dimensions as
follows: width 5 m and height 26 m. A gallery follows, which is 56
m long and with approximately the same
dimensions. First, it goes to the west, then to the north. Along
the gallery there are 8 verticals, it’s
the gallery denivelation reaching 16.5 m. The dimensions of the exit
opening are: 5 m wide and 41 m high.
Through the upper bridge a stream runs, coming from the upper
(E) part of Aydarsko Dere. When the
outflow of the stream is small, its water disappears in a ponor,
situated 25 m below the exit of the
bridge. When in flood, the stream runs further in the valley between
the two bridges and passes through the
lower bridge (cave) from where it runs further into the canyon
downstream.
The famous stone bridge was first recorded
and described in 1885 by Stoyu Shishkov (Journal
Balgarski Pregled, 9 and 10), then by K.
and H. Škorpil in their book “Krazhski Yavleniya” (1900 c).
Later, studied many times. The actual map
was made in September 1990 by A. Jalov from Heliktit –
Sofia and G. Ilchevski from Studenets –
Chepelare Caving Clubs.
Declared a Natural Monument, together with
39.7 ha of adjacent land (Decree 2813/08.11.1961).
Karlukovo Village, Lovech Distr.
Altitude 216 m. Length 240 m. Denivelation
-50 m
Coordinates: N 43° 10' 22" E 24° 04'
33"
A natural bridge cave near Karlukovo.
Formed by the river Malak Iskar. Two entrances. Height of
the upper entrance 29 m, of the lower
entrance 42.5 m. The valley after the lower entrance is the remnant
of a former, much bigger cave, which is
now collapsing. The trends towards disappearing of the cave
could be witnessed from two large
“windows” on the ceiling, called “Oknata”. As early as the Neolith
and the Eneolith, the primitive man
appreciated the qualities of the cave and many artefacts, which are
evidence of that, have been discovered
during excavations.
The cave has been declared a National
Monument and Protected Area (together with 1.5 ha of
adjacent land, Decree 2810 from 1963).
Popov (1984) considers the cave being 1 800 000 years old.
Rabisha Village, Vidin Distr.
Length 2500 m. Denivelation -56 m. Surface
30 000 m2. Volume 220 000 m3
Coordinates: N 43° 43' 41.1" E 22°
34' 54.8"
A cave, 1.5 km NW of Rabisha, in the hill
Rabishka Mogila (Magurata), Western Predbalkan, in
Aptian (Urgonian) limestone.
A horizontal, branched cave with six
chambers. The biggest one (Triumfalna Zala) has 5720 m2,
with dimensions: 128 m long, 58 m wide and
21 m high. There are eight other smaller chambers in the
side galleries. The SW branch is of
special interest because of the cave paintings on the walls (over 1000,
made with ochre and bat guano). The cross
section of the chambers is asymmetric with semivertical SW
walls and NE inclined parts, defined by
the position of the layers. Massive flowstone and river deposits.
The cave formation started in Tortonian
(15 millions years ago). Fossils from seven species of
Quaternary birds, fish and molluscs have
been found in the deposits.
The cave was first discovered partly by
Marinov (1887). F. Birkner published further archaeological
data in 1916 and Dr B. Bonchev from Vidin
published a small booklet. In 1928, R. Popov attracted
the attention of Bulgarian and foreign
scholars to the cave paintings. They were created in various
periods, the earliest – in the
Epipaleolith and Neolith, the prevailing part – in the late Eneolith –
beginning of Early Bronze Age. This is the
most important site with monochrome rock art in Southeast
Europe.
The cave was studied in details by T.
Pavlov Caving Brigade in 1948. Regular archaeological
excavations were carried out in 1971–1975.
The cave had been inhabited from the beginning of the
Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age. In 1974,
attempts to use the cave for asthmatic patients were made.
Modern research on the rock paintings was
carried out in 1988-93. Among the drawings in Svetilishte
Chamber, records of a prehistoric sun
calendar were identified and decoded.
Show cave since 1961 (the first show cave
in Bulgaria). Later, a wine cellar was built in the first
western branch. Declared a National
Monument in 1960.
Fauna (studied by P. Beron in 1960)
represented by 37 known species, including the troglobites
Hyloniscus flammula (Isopoda), Plusiocampa bulgarica and P. beroni (Diplura).
Syeva dupka
Brestnitsa Village, Lovech Distr.
Length 205 m. Denivelation 22 m (-12; 10
m). Surface 15 620 m2
Coordinates: N 43° 02' 51.3" E 24°
11' 16.4"
A cave in the Ledenishki Rid, 2.5 km from
Brestnitsa, in limestone from the Upper Jurassic
(Titonian).
A one-gallery, descending and ascending
cave with five chambers, the biggest being Srutishteto
(53 x 26 x 17 m). Karstic accumulative
forms, deposits of terra rossa, boulders. Dripping water.
The first information about the cave was
provided by G. Zlatarski in 1883 and Škorpil in 1900.
First exploration and survey – by N.
Atanassov and D. Papazov on August 20-21, 1932, and At. Stefanov
and N. Atanassov on July 10-13, 1935.
Again explored in 1946 and 1949. Detailed survey and scientific
research done by V. Popov
(geomorphologist) in 1968.
A show cave (since 1967), a Natural
Monument by virtue of Decree 2180/10.10.1962), together
with the adjacent 29 ha of land.
Fauna: 26 species known, including the
troglobites Neobisium
bureschi and Balkanoroncus
bureschi (Pseudoscorpions), Paranemastoma (Buresiolla) bureschi (Opiliones, most probably an error)
and the beetles Netolitzkya maneki and Tranteeviela bulgarica.
Kotel Town, Sliven Distr.
Length 4782 m. Denivelation -37 m
Coordinates: N 42° 52' 50.8" E 26°
22' 13"
A cave complex, labyrinth-like, with
asymmetric development of galleries. Formed in Cretaceous
(Maastricht)limestone, on the left slope
of Suhoyka river, in locality Zelenicha. In the clay deposits of
the biggest chamber, called Sahara, which
is 66 m long and 22 m wide, remains of cave bear (Ursus
spelaeus) have been discovered. The cave was
discovered and explored up to 700 m by the caving club
of Kabile, Yambol, in April 1972. Later,
cavers from Kotel and Sofia explored new passages and the
cave’s length reached 3200 m. In 1987,
cavers from Akademik Plovdiv updated the existing map and
established the latest know length of the
cave.
Natural Monument (Decree 3702/29.12.1972)
together with 5.2 ha of adjacent land.
The recent cave fauna includes at least
four troglobites (a rare phenomenon for Kotel area):
Duvalius kotelensis (Coleoptera, Carabidae), the collembols Pseudosinella duodecimocellata and
Pseudosinella bulgarica and unidentified Isopoda.
Kotel Town, Sliven Distr.
Altitude 736 m. Length 1367 m.
Denivelation -242 m
Coordinates: N 42° 56' 00.9" E 26°
30' 46"
A cave in Zlosten region, 4.3 km NE of
Kotel. Formed in Senonian limestone. A cascade pothole,
with the biggest vertical of 18 m. One of
the beautiful Bulgarian caves with stone waterfalls, sinter lakes,
stalactites and stalagmites. There is an
underground stream.
The pothole was descended first by P.
Beron in 1961 (up to 130 m). The first exploration with a
survey took place on July16, 1964. It was
carried out by S. Kazheva, Sv. Videnova, N. Popov, P.
Gantchev, V. Stoitsev, Tsv. Lichkov, A.
Grozdanov, B. Nedelchev.
Protected as a National Monument (Decree
2810/10.10.1962, with five of adjacent area).
(Snow White, called so by A. Petrov
because of the white stalactites) (219)
Peshtera Town
Length 230 m. Denivelation -18 m. Surface
3150 m2
Coordinates: N 42° 00' 40.6" E 24°
16' 30.7"
A show cave SW of the town Peshtera, on
the left slope of Novomahlenska River, near the base of
Lilova Skala, northern part of Batashka
Mountain. A one gallery, descending cave, developed along two
basic systems of faults directed SE/NW and
S/N. Six chambers, the biggest being 60 x 40 x 12 m.
Variety of sinter forms everywhere. Sinter
lakes formed by infiltration water. Discovered on January 2,
1961 by G. Kotsev, G. Zlatarev and B.
Evtimov (members of Speleoclub Kupena Peshtera). In the same
year, it was studied by the scientist G.
Markov, N. Djambazov, VI. Popov and A. Petrov. Material from
the early Iron Age and Roman-Thracian time
has been discovered. In 1968 a precise topographic and
geomorphological survey was done, then in
the 80s geophysical studies were carried out.
It was equipped as a show cave in 1968,
managed by the Tourist Society Kupena. Declared a
Natural Monument (together with 25.1 ha).
