From year to year, the magnificence of the caves attracts many tourists from different corners of the earth. The power of nature is documented in the fragile beauty of the formations of dripstone or ice forms, in the diversity of their colors.
There are more than 4,000 known caves in Slovakia, but only 12 of them are open to visitors .
Liptov and its caves
Since Liptov has an invaluable wealth of caves in its geographical reserves, this region is called Liptov Karst . The Liptov area offers tourists 3 open caves for inspection. In addition to a large number of inaccessible caves, Liptov Karst is rich in various karst formations and abysses.
The northern side of the Low Tatras, where Demanovska Valley is located , is the Demanovska Karst . The Demanovska Cave Complex is located here , its length is 25 km. Demanovska Valley opens 2 caves for public access, through which you can walk.
Demanovska Cave of Freedom
Demanovska Cave of Liberty is one of the most beautiful and amazing caves in all of Europe, and also the most visited. This cave is located in Demanovska Valley , or more precisely on the northern side of the Low Tatras (national reservation Demanovska Valley), between the ski resort Jasna and the town of Liptovsky Mikulas. On average, 150-175 thousand people visit the cave per year.
The Liberty Cave was discovered in 1921. In 1924, it was opened to tourists for visits and inspection. The entrance to the cave is located at an altitude of 870 meters above sea level, and a convenient path leads to the entrance.
The cave was formed under the influence of the rivers Zadna Voda and Demänovka , whose water created underground spaces in the limestone massif. The cave is a complex system of corridors, grottoes, underground halls with rich drip decorations. The cascading side corridors lead to the cave’s horizontal levels. In addition to stalagmites and stalactites, wonderful stone waterfalls, there are small lakes with an amazing drip surface that resembles water lily leaves, as well as pearl placers and many other magnificent details that are on their bottom. Flow formations are presented in a wide range of colors of pink, white and red. It is impossible to take your eyes off the charming waterfalls and columns. Also in the cave, namely in the Great Chamber, you can see a large layer of white, soft tuff – “moon milk”.
The lowest cave hides the underground bed of the Demenovka River . The total length of the Freedom Cave reaches 8126 meters, but only 1800 m are open to viewing. It is located at a depth of 120 meters. The excursion program for the Freedom Cave is divided into two rings – small and large. The length of the small ring is 1200 m and takes about 60 minutes, and the large one is 2200 m long, getting to know it will take about 100 minutes.
The Cave of Freedom has been nominated for the status of a National Natural Monument. And since 1933, speleoclimatic health procedures have been carried out in the cave corridors.
Demanovska Ice Cave
Demänovská Ice Cave is located just three kilometers from the Svobody Cave. The cave was opened to visitors in the 19th century in the 80s. Of the total length of the cave corridors of 1975 meters, 650 meters are open for viewing. The cave is located at a depth of 57 meters. The entrance to the cave is located in the Bashta rock (northern side of the Low Tatras). In the upper corridors, the air temperature is stably maintained at + 5 C, but the lower you go, the lower the temperature will be (at the lower levels it is below 0). The average air humidity is 92-98%.
The history of the Ice Cave dates back to the Middle Ages, as evidenced by the inscriptions and drawings on its walls. Archaeologists have discovered in the cavity of the cave bones of cave bears, which disappeared from the face of the earth more than 15 thousand years ago. The cave was formed under the influence of the underground flow of the Demenovka River . Its first name was the Dragon Cave , this name was directly related to the finds of bear remains, which were mistakenly called dragon bones.
The lower part of the cave is made up of ice formations, which are formed in the spring as a result of melting snow, the water from which seeps into the cave. Here, this water freezes, forming magnificent, powerful ice pillars.
The cave consists of three levels, their formations are mainly oval in shape, which were formed under the influence of the river waters.
Permanent ice can be seen in the lower part of the cave, called Kmeta . It is represented by stalactites and stalagmites, ice pillars and a floor of solid ice. The original mineralogical formations can be seen only in a few places in the cave, because in its areas covered with ice they have undergone significant cryogenic destruction. The dripstone deposits have a color from black to gray. They acquired these colors due to the illumination of paraffin lamps and oil burners, which were used until 1924.
Dobsinska Ice Cave
The entrance to the Dobšinská Cave , also called the “ice hole” , has been known since ancient times. In 1871, thanks to the influence of the town of Dobšiná , the cave was opened to visitors. In the period 1953-54, a path was built here, electric lighting was installed. During all the construction and organizational work, parts of the cave were discovered that were free of ice, and safety barriers were installed on them.
The total length of the cave reaches 1483 meters, and the depth is 112 meters. The length of the excursion route is 475 meters. Having descended only a few dozen meters, you find yourself in the kingdom of cold, ice and incomparable forms and beauty of Mother Nature.
The formation of these glaciations occurred after the collapse between the Stratenska and Dobšinská Ice Caves . As a result, the Dobšinská Ice Cave acquired the appearance of an ice bag with air, which found its way through the upper opening, formed due to the collapse of part of the vault. Now it is used as an entrance to the cave. Rainfall, seeping into the cave, formed the glaciation of the underground spaces. These glaciations are presented here in different forms – in the form of waterfalls of ice, columns, stalagmites and simply on the floor. The area of such glaciations is 9,772 m², and their volume is 110,100 m³. The thickest ice deposits are in the Great Hall (26.5 m). Regular renewal of this underground glacier has been going on for almost 2000 years. The ice in the cave slowly moves from the entrance towards the Ruffini Corridor and the Lower Floor, through the Large and Small Halls , at a rate of approximately 2-4 centimeters per year.
The air temperature in the ice halls fluctuates between -0.4 and -1.0 C (annual average). More significant temperature fluctuations occur depending on the season: in February from -2.6 to 3.8 C, and in August up to +0.2 C. In ice-free spaces, the relative air humidity fluctuates between 75 and 90%.
The Dobšinská Cave is one of the first electrically lit caves. Electric lighting was installed back in 1887. It was widely popular immediately after its discovery, and not only experts but also the public showed interest. In 1890, a concert was held here, organized by Karl Ludwig von Habsburg. The cave was also famous for its skating rink, which functioned perfectly in the summer; the skating rink was opened in 1893.
Krasnogorsk cave
The Krasnogorsk cave is located in the Slovak Karst near the village of Dlha Luka. The cave was formed as a result of the underground flow of the Buzgo River. Its total length is 450 meters, and it is located at a depth of 50 meters.
The cave is famous for its 34-meter dripstone column . This is the tallest stalagmite that formed in the temperate zone.
Aragonite Okhtinskaya Cave
The Okhtinskaya Aragonite Cave is located at an altitude of 642 meters above sea level. It was formed in deposits of crystalline limestone (deposits of the Paleozoic era of the Devonian period). The halls and corridors have a wedge-shaped appearance to the top, this phenomenon is provided by the high corrosion activity of atmospheric precipitation, the water of which seeps along tectonic faults and all this in tours Slovakia .
The cave is known for three types of aragonite generation defined in it. That formed from an aqueous solution consisting of Mn, Fe, Mg ions and this only under conditions of a stable microclimate. Aragonite, which is the oldest, has a milky-transparent color (age 121-138 thousand years). The second generation is considered the most common, here it is presented mainly in the form of spiral helictites and needles (age 14 thousand years). This stage of aragonite is still in the growth phase, so it has a white color and a stable homogeneous structure. The modern generation, that is, the youngest, is presented in the form of fans. The diameter of such fans is from 2 to 4 centimeters, in rare cases more.
In the Aragonite Cave , the air temperature is between 7.2 and 7.8 degrees. Relative humidity fluctuates between 92 and 97%.
The Okhtinskaya Aragonite Cave was discovered in 1954 by workers from a mining exploration team. Specialists from the National Enterprise “Tourist” examined it in 1955, and professional research work began in 1956. It was fully equipped for open access and an entrance gallery 145 meters long was created, and excursions began in 1972, although the first work on its design began in 1966. The total length of the Aragonite Cave is 585 meters, and it is located at a depth of 30 meters. Of the total length of the cave, only 230 meters of this underground kingdom are available for inspection.
Domitsa Cave
The Domica Cave emerged back in the Triassic period . The cave is located near the border with Hungary. The unique genetic block is formed by the Domica Cave and the Baradla Cave (Hungary). Here, in addition to calcium deposits surrounded by rock and cylindrical lakes, you can enjoy a boat ride along the underground Styx River. The cave resembles palace corridors. The bed of the Styx River is like an underground canyon, which is decorated with bizarre curves and ornaments.
The length of the cave reaches 5368 meters, but since it is combined with the Devil’s Hole cave, the total length reaches 25 kilometers, but only one quarter of the cave is located on the territory of Slovakia. The Domica cave is located at a depth of 12 meters. The air temperature in the cave is between 10.1 C and 11.5 C. Relative humidity is in the range of 94% to 98%.
The Domica Cave was a dwelling for people who lived in the Neolithic period. These people were the founders of the Eastern Linear Pottery, in particular its culture, as well as the Basque and Hemeran. But over time, the entrance to the cave was blocked by debris and stones.
The Domica cave has been known for a long time, but the first dated penetration falls on 1926, it was made by J. Majko, where he found many archaeologically valuable finds. After that it is also called the treasure trove of archaeologists. It contains many different valuable antiquities: containers with shards, ceramic dishes, arrows, awls, irons, rings, bracelets, fish hooks, stone tools.
Lighting was installed in the cave in 1930. There are 1,315 meters of underground wonders available for travel through the cave, 140 meters of which can be covered by boat.
Drina Cave
The cave is located in western Slovakia and is the only cave in this region that is open to visitors. The Driny Cave is located in the territory of the Small Carpathians in the southwest side of Smolenice (village). The cave was discovered in the 19th century. The Driny Cave is not like other Slovak caves with large spacious underground halls and corridors, it is a system of narrow cracked corridors that are decorated with dripstone formations.
The length of the cave is 680 meters, it is located at a depth of 40 meters. Its amazing corridors are formed in brown-gray limestone. The cave is characterized by its drapery and uneven jagged surface. Figures and stone waterfalls, stalactites and stalagmites of various bizarre shapes open up to the eye. There are also pools here that were formed from the drip water of atmospheric precipitation.
The temperature environment is in the range from + 7.2 C to 7.9 C. With a relative humidity of 93-97%.
There are 11 species of bats in the cave.
In 1933, the organized Association explored the Driny Cave. In the same year, the lower entrance was equipped and work began on the arrangement of the cave. In 1935, the Driny Cave was completely ready to receive guests with a laid out route of 175 meters. In 1943, permanent electric lighting was installed in the cave. In 1950, the Hall of the Slovak Speleological Society was discovered , it, together with the Corridor of Hope and the Clay Corridor, was opened for viewing in 1959. Today, the length of the route in this cave is 410 meters.
Yasovskaya cave
Jasovska Cave is located in the vastness of the Medzev Upland (western part of the Košice Basin). It was the first Slovak cave opened to the public (1846). Although its upper tunnels were known to the world as early as the 13th century.
The cave was formed in the Middle Triassic dolomites and steinalm light limestones. The destruction of the Yasov mountain range determined the direction of the cave corridors. The length of the cave reaches 2811 meters, and the maximum height of its vaults is up to 55 meters, despite the fact that it is located at a depth of 85 meters.
The underground tunnels have undergone a long and gradual formation process. In the first stages of development, the upper corridors appeared, and in the last stages, the lower corridor systems were formed. The upper corridors were formed under the influence of the erosive activity of the waters of the Bodva River , which got here through karst sinkholes. The lower system of caves with all their corridors and chambers was influenced by stagnant waters. The lower system of corridors, together with part of the excursion route, was once flooded.
The cave is decorated with dripstone formations. They are presented in the form of columns, stone waterfalls, ridges, plates, stalactites and stalagmites.
The air temperature here fluctuates between +8.7 C and +9.5 C, with a relative humidity of 91-97%.
The Yasovskaya cave served as a home for more than one generation of not only people, but also animals. After all, various remains were found in its labyrinths, confirming this fact.
Locals believe that the Jasovska Cave was discovered by a monk who was a member of the Premonstratensian monastery. The cave was not only a refuge for people. The cave contains many wall inscriptions. One of them dates back to 1452 and states that a soldier from Brandys, Jan Jiskra, won the battle. In the Bat Chamber there is an entry from 1576, which confirms the cave’s fame back in the distant 16th century. The Jasovska Cave was opened to the public in 1846. The total length of the excursion route is 550 meters.
Belyanskaya Cave
The Belianska Cave traces its history back to the 18th century, to the time of gold prospectors. The cave is located on the territory of the Tatra National Park, namely in the picturesque area of the Belianske Tatras (western part).
The formation of the caves is associated with tectonic faults of the Kobyly Vrh plateau , which is located above the cave. The waters of the Ice Age, which penetrated into the cave corridors, only slightly changed the internal appearance of the almost formed caves.
The total length of the cave corridors is 3640 meters, the difference in height is about 160 meters. The entrance to the cave passes through a tunnel, which is simply crowned with many cracks leading to the original entrance, which is located 82 meters higher than the current one. Several places in the cave have an oval shape, they are created by water. The incomparable vertical segmentation is complemented by several abysses.
Layered calcium deposits form stone waterfalls, namely: the Waterfall Dome, the High Dome, the Music Hall, the SNP Dome and the Palm Hall. Here the air temperature is almost stable, but with a slight fluctuation from +5 C to +6.3 C. The relative humidity is within 91-97%.
In early 1884, the Belyanskaya Cave was opened to the public, and in the same year, the Dome of Ruins was opened in this cave . In 1886, electric lighting was installed here. Grandiose restoration work was carried out in the last century, or more precisely in the 50s. In the period 1979-1980, an excursion route was laid to the entrance, which is located between the Dome of Ruins and the Clay Passage . Nowadays, the cave is actively used as a health resort (spaleo climate). A route of more than 1000 meters is offered for tourists.
Bystryanskaya Cave
In the southern part of the Low Tatras is the Bystrianska Cave . It is located near the tourist centers of Myto and Tale, which is under Dumber. The cave consists of two parts: the New and the Old Cave. Their total length is over 3,000 meters.
Bystryanskaya Cave resembles an abyss dominated by mineralogical draperies hanging from the calcite crust that formed. Since 1971, some parts of the cave have been used for speleotherapy sessions .
The Bystryanskaya Cave is 2600 meters long and reaches a depth of 95 meters. The formation of the cave was gradual, the stages of its formation directly depended on the deformations of the valley. The waters of the Bystryanka River flowed through funnels to the karst territories. The riverbed, performing bizarre zigzag forms, located in the Old Cave , is its oldest section. At present, the riverbed runs through the New Cave section.
The cave is characterized by high and narrow crack corridors that widen under the influence of erosion and corrosion. The interlayer surfaces define small oval-shaped corridors, there are places where they connect narrow corridors. Large halls and corridors are also inherent in the Bystryanskaya Cave , but they look more like breaks. In the New Cave , namely in its lower part, the Hellish Abyss is located , its depth reaches 56 meters. Near the Hellish Abyss, mineralogical formations are represented by aragonite – wavy limestone.
The temperature in the cave ranges from +5.7 C to 6.6 C, and the relative humidity is within 92-97%.
The corridors of the Old Cave have been known to local residents since ancient times. The pioneers-contemporaries who visited the virgin places of the Bystryanskaya Cave in 1926 were E. Laubert and J. Kowalczyk. The first to discover the Hellish Abyss and penetrate through it into the labyrinths of the New Cave were the Holman Brothers and J. Kowalczyk in the same year of 1926. The modern entrance to the cave was discovered in 1932, it is the lower entrance to the New Cave . In the period of 1939-1940, some part of the cave was open for excursions. In the chamber called the Failure there is a plaque that tells its visitors about the tragic event that occurred in this place during the period of anti-fascist resistance.
Vazhetskaya Cave
Between the cities of Poprad and Liptovsky Mikulas there is an amazing cave – Važecká. Its length is not great, only 530 meters. The cave is the most important peleontological place, where the remains of cave bears were found. Quite recently this animal was depicted in a sculpture, and in life-size, and installed in the cave hall. Although the length of the cave is not so great, its dripstone decorations simply amaze with their beauty, not to mention its rare but rich fauna.
The Vazhetskaya Cave was formed in the Gutenstein dark-gray limestones as a result of the ancient waters of the tributary of the Bely Vah River , which penetrated through karst sinkholes. The cave corridors were transformed by collapses, but this is only along the length of the interlayer surfaces, represented by limestone.
The underground cave kingdom is decorated with stalactites, stalagmites and, of course, dripstone pools. Almost the entire cave is filled with sediments from the Bely Vah River , the waters of a stream located in the semi-blind Priepadla Valley . The air temperature in the Vazhetskaya Cave is in a narrow range from +6.6 C to +7.1 C, with a relative humidity of 94-96%.
The network of corridors of the Vazhetskaya Cave was discovered in 1922, although the local population had known about its existence since time immemorial. In 1928, the Vazhetskaya Cave was opened for tourist visits, thanks to its tenant F. Havranek. But the official opening and measurement of the excursion route took place in 1934. Electric lighting was installed here and the Vazhetskaya Cave was reconstructed in 1954. At present, the length of the route for excursions is 235 meters.
Harmanetska cave
Harmanecká Cave is one of the most important caves in Slovakia, characterized by large collapse chambers and huge amounts of “moon milk”. The entrance to the cave, which is called Izbica , was known to workers and lumberjacks who lived in this area since ancient times, but the secret corridors of the Harmanecká Cave were opened to people only in 1932. The cave was formed in dark gray Gutenstein limestone. The length of the cave is 2763 meters, and the depth is 75 meters. Among the many oval-shaped horizontal corridors leading downwards, there are many collapses that have created huge spaces in the form of halls – the High Chamber, the Pagoda Chamber, the Wandering Chamber and many others. The first cave tunnels were formed under the influence of corrosion, which is caused by water that seeped here. Over time, in several places in the Harmanets Cave, collapses of walls and vaults occurred, which led to the destruction of oval corridors, which were transformed into fields covered with rock debris.
The air temperature in the cave ranges from +5.8 C to 6.5 C, and the relative humidity is 95-97%.
The Harmanetskaya Cave is a favorite habitat for bats. There are currently eleven species here. The dominant species are the short-eared bat and the greater bat, their number was up to 1,500 individuals.
During the war, in 1944, the Harmanetskaya Cave served as a shelter for local residents. In 1949, measurements of the cave were taken, and in 1950 it was officially opened for excursions. During the expedition of 1987, the speleological society discovered a continuation of the cave corridors. Today, the excursion route is 720 meters.
Gombasek Ice Cave is a fluviokarst cave 1525 meters long. Two levels of this cave are represented by oval corridors, which were formed by river waters, and of course cracks and landslides. The cave was formed in light Wetterstein and dark gray Gutenstein limestones, as a result of the erosive and corrosive activity of the Black Vah River and its intermittent tributary, which is located in the Marble Hall. Gombasek Ice Cave is only a part of the Silica-Gombasek hydrolocic system, which is developed underground.
The cave is unique due to its dripstone stalactites, which sometimes reach 3 meters in length. There are also many other forms of stalagmites, stalactites, and various draperies that have arisen from dripstone deposits.
The air temperature in the cave is quite high – from + 9.0 C to 9.5 C, and the relative humidity reaches 95-98%.
The cave is not a permanent abode of bats, only occasionally such a species as the Lesser Horseshoe Bat can be seen here. But in the last periods of autumn-spring, fire salamanders began to settle near the entrance of the cave.
Gombasecka Cave was discovered in 1951 by volunteer speleologists. Through the Black Exit , after completing some excavation work, they entered the underground labyrinths of the cave. Gombasecka Cave was opened to the public in 1955. In 1968, the first speleotherapy session was held here . The excursion route is 285 meters.