ShowCaveBlog

The Moravian Karst, the biggest and most important karst area in the Czech Republik has a new show cave. The Vypustek Cave was mined for fertilizer a hundred years ago, uised as an underground factory by the Nazis during World War II, later equipped with a Warsaw Pact secret bunker during the cold war. But during the 1990s the military abandoned the cave.

Vypustek is now in the management of local cavers, was developed as a show cave and is now open to the public for a few weeks. Beeing the 14th show cave of the Czech Republic, it is unique: it is the only cave with absolutely no stair, the only cave with an secret bunker. This is not a crystal cave, there are no stalactites and stalagmites. But it is of great historic importance.

This cave is of course listed by showcaves.com. We are proud we have listed it for some time, as we had the chance to visit it three years ago. We have taken pictures, which will be online soon.

Show Caves of the Czech Republic: Výpustek jeskyně

In the hills of the western part of Budapest, numerous interesting caves exist. Budapest is the only Capital in the World with two show caves in the city center. Obviously caves are important for the city, but on the other side they are often in the way of development projects. This was the case this year, when during the start of a home construction project a crystal cave was discovered.

The cave was explored and surveyed for a length of 60m. The cave is very low several times, which makes it difficult or impossible to develop it as a show cave. Nevertheless it is protect by the Hungarian Nature Protection Law, which covers all natural caves longer than two meters. But it seems the house builders were not very happy with the cave. So the entrance was accidentially covered by construction debris.

After this situation was discovered by a cave researcher he notified the nature protection authority. The construction work was stopped and the cave is now protected by an armed guard. But it is still unknown how much of the cave is destroyed.

Budapest Times – Newly discovered crystal cave stores construction debris

And one more Halloween special. At Cave of the Mounds will be two days of folk stories of southwest Wisconsin. On Friday 26th October between 5 and 7 pm will also be the opportunity for a candle light walk on the Karst View Trail. And on Saturday 27th October between 8 am and 6 pm there will be a scavenger hunt, a falconry presentation and special Halloween treat tours of the famous cave. Costumed children will get gemstones as treats.

Kubla Khan cave – located at Mole Creek – is one of Australia’s most pristine caves. To protect the formations and the cave biota visits are restricted to cave scientists doing research, and of those only 12 groups each year are allowed. And they are accompanied by a guide who makes shure the cave is not damaged.

Some days ago, probably during the last week of September, the cave gate was opened and removed with heavy machinery. The destruction was discovered on Sunday 30th September 2007. This must have been pretty strenuous, as the cave is more than half an hour walk from the next road, through thick shrubs and uphill.

As the gate was stolen, but the cave was fortunately not vandalized, it was probably for the metal. But despite the currently high commodity prices, we guess the revenue for the thieves is pretty low, and it will be significantly more expensive to build a new door.

The local police asks for informations concerning the vandalizm.

Another Halloween inspired event is the Cathedral Caverns Fall Festival. On special guided tours through the cave a scary story is told along the way. But the cave tour is only part of the event. Outside the cave are live performances and games for children.

The event is on 27th October, starts at 5 and ends at 10 pm. The cave tour costs $5, and some other activities cost various charges.

 Cathedral Caverns

As every year, around Halloween many events take place in or at caves in the U.S.A.

On two nights, from 26th to 27th October the Nighttime Cave Tours take place from 5 to 8 in the evening, every 15 minutes. Roxy School of the Arts students will perform dramatizations in the cave and the guides will tell about the cave history and Clarkesville history.

The event is family friendly, children are allowed from the age of three. This is not a spooky or horror event. Entrance fee is $5, and visitors should wear sturdy shoes and bring a torch. There is also the possibility to rent one at the cave.

 Dunbar Cave