An excursion to the largest cave complex in Croatia

• Excursion to the largest cave complex in Croatia

Cherovak is the largest in Croatia investigated caves complex - the length of the bottom is 2779 meters, the top - 1 200 meters. Some papers often write about what is the most beautiful cave complex in Croatia, and many come to this corner of the world just to make a journey into the bowels of the earth. It may well be the place turned out to be really fantastic.

Caves Guides Cherovak not sit permanently in place and if you go at random, there is a high probability that the tour will not be able to do. The site of the company that organizes the visits, there is information that his visit should be reported in advance - almost a week, so that they can form a group.

The tour begins with the fact that you are sent into the woods. Along the path. They say, to go to a victorious and rest there:

So, we went through the picturesque woods and went, and the path climbed higher. It turned out to get to the cave entrance, you need to stomp the hill about half a kilometer. Not surprisingly, the guide sent us forward - she herself stood where as faster.

Next to the entrance there is a staircase leading even higher. As we have explained, there is the upper cave. However, for myself, we decided to explore the underground world of the eye enough and Lower, because had no idea what to expect.

The cave entrance from the casual visitor closes the grille. Get inside only with a guide. In Lower explored from two and a half kilometers open to visitors 700 meters - on without special equipment is no longer to pass.

In fact, photography is strictly prohibited. As I understand it, it is standard practice in all the caves (at least in Croatia). However, when I was at the entrance asked if I could make some shots, the guide once again reminded of the complete ban on filming, but then smiled and said that the Great Hall of the little shoot we still can.

I quite honestly held almost two minutes. And then off we go: first, took the bridge, then a tunnel, then stalactites. Notes I do not have, and the consciences tormented for long - about the first fifty frames. After all, who knows which of the rooms that we came across on the way, was the greatest?

When we were planning the trip, I have these caves otherwise imagined - a dark tunnel covered with wet clay walls, mud puddles underfoot. In general, the contrast between the expected and the fact that we saw in fact, was really great.

Puddle, by the way, really were, but through every care to bridge the gap - in fact, can be quite easy to make the entire walk without ever getting your feet wet:

I understand the guide, the growth rate of stalagmites in the cave - only 1 millimeter in 30 years. You can imagine their age, though some have already reached several meters in height:

Many stalagmites have names. For example, the gray laggard in the lower right quarter of the image - is Santa Claus. Incidentally, the steps that can be seen to the left of it, we just went into the hall - you can try to imagine the scale:

How do I "call" this handsome, honestly do not remember, but it was very big, yes. About two of my growth, not less:

This stalactite called "Bear Paw". By the way, about the remains of prehistoric cave bears were found in this part of the cave. The guide told us that a bear standing on its hind legs, was about three meters high. I would not want to meet with such a large object in the forest:

In general, I really liked how the cave was organized highlighting - the whole route around hidden lamps and spotlights, usually almost imperceptible, but it allows you to see all that is created by nature without any lanterns. By the way, in this kind of answer as to why the caves prefer to work with groups and the casual visitor in general and may refuse - to burn all this illumination and drive up and down the guide because the seven euro as something completely unprofitable.

bone remains of prehistoric people and axes were found in the caves. Age finds is about 30 thousand years:

stalactites color depends on the composition of the water. For example, if water is present in a lot of iron, color will be brown, red or yellow:

This room - the room where the tour ends. The idea is that you can get along, but it needs to get into the small hole somewhere on the ceiling:

Paul here is very peculiar shape. Covered with so-called "stone waves":

In general, to visit one cave is given about an hour, but actually in the cave, we were 40 minutes, the rest of the time you need to walk from the parking lot to the entrance and back.

By the way, another standard practice when visiting caves - on the way back the guide always goes last. I understand that because of those reasons is that no one is tempted to grab some souvenirs in the form of crumbs-stalactite.

In some places the stalactites are visible on the water droplets. About how they grow:

The temperature in the cave is always 9 degrees. All year round, regardless of the season. Judging by the reviews of the tourists visiting the caves in Croatia in the summer, many possibilities are very happy for an hour break from the heat. Well, in winter you can bask.

On the way back it was difficult to take, because this time I went first and had to constantly getting a bit ahead so as not to delay.

In general, the course I would like to spend here, carefully walk with a tripod a couple of hours - and the result would be quite different. But something tells me that this possibility in no cave will not give. In fact, as I understand it, a complete ban on shooting just that and is due - if you wait until every man with a camera will film everything to him climb up - tour will drag on all day. Meanwhile, the delay of the program does not provide - before descending into the cave, the tour guide is mandatory makes the call and reported that the group is inside - and one that is selected on the surface. We have to think, do not forget to send help if after a certain time there will be a second call.

In general, if someone suddenly gather to go to Croatia - Caving highly recommend, the more that open to the public, "tourist", there are almost two dozen. However, the organization is better to take care in advance of the visit - as I understand it, is not at all possible to get without prior arrangement, and many are only open during the season.