Distribution of caves in Poland; the caves mentioned in text: 1. Jaskinia w Ociemnem, 2. Jaskinia w Trzech Kopcach, 3. Diabla Dziura w Bukowcu, 4. Kryształowe Groty in Wieliczka salt mine, 5. caves in lead-zinc mines near Olkusz, 6. Jaskinia Wierna , 7. Jaskinia Studnisko, 8. Jaskinia Skorocicka, 9. Chelosiowa Jama, 10. Jaskinia Raj, 11. Jaskinia Niedźwiedzia, 12. Szczelina Wojcieszowska, 13. caves near Inowrocław, 14. caves near Gdańsk

Western Tatra Mountains
(Tatry Zachodnie)

The Tatra are only alpine mountains in Poland. They occupy the area of 785 km² (only 175 km² in Poland). The karst rocks (limestones and dolomites of Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous age) build mainly the Western part of the Tatra range. They occur over the area of 50 km². This area is practically the only region in Poland with large and deep caves. Because of that the everyday activity of Polish cavers, both exploration and training is concentrated in this area. Long life anchors were installed in the most popular caves of this region.
More than 750 caves are now known in the Western Tatra Mountains. The total length of these caves exceed 100 km. The highest outcrops of karst rocks lie at altitudes above 2000 m and the main karst springs arc situated at the level of about 1000 m. Most caves are located in the following areas: slopes of the Bobrowicc, Kominiarski Wierch, Kościeliska Valley, Czerwone Wierchy massif, Giewont, Kalacka Turnia and Kopa Magury. The longest and deepest caves are situated mainly in the Czerwone Wierchy massif.
Recent years brought some new cave explorations in that area. The most significant achievement was the exploration of Jaskinia Mała w Mułowej, located in the Czerwony Wierchy massif (see the article by Lorczyk). This cave with its vertical extent of -538 m