Aggtelek Caves

I have found this article on thefreelibary.com. It is a very good guide for this great cave system.


Aggtelek Caves

You are about to enter one of the great discoveries of subterranean exploration in the history of the world. It crosses borders. Its history reaches back past the Ice Age to Stone Age man and the dinosaurs. It harbors species that live nowhere else on the planet. It is the longest cave system in Europe. Entering from the Hungarian side, the caves thread their way a little over 19 km/11 miles, to finally join the Slovak side. In Hungary it is known as the Baradla Cave. The two entrances on the Hungarian side, at Aggtelek and Josvafo (about four miles north), have hotels and restaurants for the thousands of people that come here. These are not five-star accommodations, but adequate.

The Aggtelek entrance to the Baradla-Dominic cave system is by far the most popular because of its spectacular caverns, but, nevertheless, Josvafo has a wonderful cave tour as well. The one-km cave walk is just one way to explore these caves. You can apply at the park headquarters for everything from canoe excursions across the dark waters of this and other caves, to diving (experienced only) in the depths of their sinkholes (see Adventures). Of course, you can also apply for simple cave explorations in caves that are already prequalified, with an experienced caver (i.e., Vass Imre, Beke, or Rakoczi Cave Tours and a number of others.) There are also local guides for hiking, rock climbing rock climbing Sports medicine An 'extreme sport' in which the participant climbs rock formations, with or without ropes Injury risk Fractures, abrasions, death. See Extreme sports. , and canoe excursions. Cave lakes abound, but the most significant are the Esztramos, Kossuth and Also caves. The Kossuth is 33 m/53 feet deep, and both it and Also have flowing water. Nevertheless, a simple walking tour is crowned with fantastic perspectives of color and shape, and a breathtaking feel for the gigantic expanse of this cavernous system.

The long tour begins at the Aggtelek entrance (next to the Barlang Hotel) and it varies from five to seven hours. If you can do it, this is the one to take, by flashlight. Climb ropes and ladders, scale boulder-faced walls and cross water-filled gullies. Josvafo (next to the Tengerszem Hotel) offers only short one- to two-hour tours, but they are along well-lighted concrete paths. The two-hour Styx stream tour passes by and over the underground river Styx, sparking memories of the Greek river entrance to the world of Hades. You pass The Observatory Stalagmite stalagmite: see stalactite and stalagmite. , rising a massive 19 m/62 feet as you enter the Hall of Giants, where music and lighting dance together in the echoes and shadows of the cave. Hanging from the ceiling, and sometimes flying by, you may see the harmless horseshoe bats, mouse-eared bats, or the often-photographed grey and brown long-eared bats.

By the flowing stream and disappearing into the dark corners of the cave, the endemic small crab, or blind raptor raptor

In general, any bird of prey, including owls. The raptors are sometimes restricted to eagles, falcons, hawks, and vultures (birds of the order Falconiformes), all diurnal predators that “seize and carry off” (Latin raptare) their prey.  beetle crawls into their hidden spaces. Paleolithic men once underwent their manhood rites while their campfires flickered against the yellow karst cave walls. The rock itself is 230-million-year-old Middle Triassic limestone. The cave is much younger, formed about two million years ago when waters seamed in from cracks in the limestone, eroding and then dissolving the rock to create various formations. As the water level stabilized, the moist air formed dripping points of water on the cave roof, which over time deposited their lime in a multitude of colors, one drop at a time. The accumulating stalactites and stalagmites decorate the passageways with spectacular formations. The formation of one millimeter/.04 inch of dripstone dripstone: see stalactite and stalagmite.  takes 12 to 20 years. So the 30-m/98-foot long Giant is more than 250,000 years old. Then there are the Dragon's Head, Tiger, the Mother in Law's tongue, the Hall of Columns, The Eagle, and the Butcher's Shop, where giant bacon strips seem to hang from the ceiling. The spectacular size of this monument has enabled Hungary to host marvelous concerts in a gigantic cavern, dubbed The Concert Hall. Listening to the rich tones reflecting from the cave walls is an unforgettable experience.

You can read the full article here: Aggtelek Caves

If you would like to discover this  particular world, we can organize it to you. More information: Adventure Travel - Aggtelek