News

Caves of the Góry Stołowe- Andrzej Wojtoń

The author describes two small caves in the Góry Stolowe (Sudetes, SW
Poland). Jaskinia Olbrzymia is 22 m long and has 2 m of vertical extent, while Schronisko Krete is 9 m long. Both
caves formed along fractures in Cretaceous sandstones.

Lamprechtsofen 2000 - Marcin Czart, Jan Kućmierz

This year's expedition to Leoganger Steinberge massif took place at the end of July and in August. The aim was,
as usual, the search for new, higher entrances to Lamprechtsofen, the world's deepest cave (the article is from year 2000). The expedition explored mainly CL 3, whose entrance lies 63 m higher than the highest entrance to Lamprechtsofen (named PL 2). The cave was explored down to 600 m without reaching the end. Another explored object was Jaskinia Lodowa situated 30 m higher than CL 3.

In Sura Mare Cave, photo S. Kotarba	In Sura Mare Cave, photo S. Kotarba

Hocher Göll - Zbigniew Rysiecki

Polish expedition worked in the Hocher Göll massif at the and of July and in August. The members cleaned "f Zakrystia, the traditional camping place used during the exploration of the cave in the 60 ties through 80 ties. Three cubic meters of litter was removed. The expedition reached -200 m in Gamsstiegschacht; in a cave called Turbowywiew they passed a squeeze at -17 m and reached -250 m. Both caves continue. Exploration in Jaskinia Gadajacych Kamieni ended at ca. -310 m because of frequent falls of ice blocks.

20 years ago in Jean Bernard - Kazimierz Szych

The author describes Polish expedition from 20 years ago, that made the first traverse of the then deepest cave in the world, Reseau Jean Bernard, from the entrance B-21 to the final sump. This achievement crowns the series of expeditions undertaken by Polish cavers to deep caves during the 70ties.

Pictures from Kazimierz Szych archives

Sureanu 2000 - Stanisław Kotarba

An team of seven cavers from Kraków, led by Stanislaw Kotarba, worked in Romania in August. At first they explored in the area Varasoia in the Bihor Mountains together with Romanian cavers. Unfortunately, the deepest cave in the area, Aven V-5 is only 273 m deep, though dying has demonstrated that karst waters descend 600 m underground.

The next area of activity was the Surenau massif (South Carpathians). The south-western part of this massif is built of Mesozoic carbonate rocks. The Polish cavers visited the greatest attraction of the area - the water cave Sura Mare (more than 10 km long, +405 m of vertical extent), and also the caves Stini, Cetatea Blili, Ponorici - Ciclovina cu Apa.

Entrance to Sura Mare Cave, photo S. Kotarba

Entrance to Cetatea Bolii Cave, photo S. Kotarba

Sudety mountains

Jaskinia Porcelanowa - Andrzej Wojtoń

Jaskinia Porcelanowa ("Porcelain Cave"; 211 m long, 26 m deep) lies in the marble quarry Polom in the Góry Kaczawskie range, Sudetes, SW Poland). The cave was discovered during quarry operations by cavers from Walbrzych in 1994. It was named to honour the then sponsor of the discoverers' club, Walbrzych Porcelain.

Porcelanowa Cave, photo: A. Czernenko	Porcelanowa Cave, photo: A. Czernenko

Marvel on the Kaczawa - Marcin Furtak

The author describes the history of discovery and exploration of two caves: Jaskinia Krysztalowa and Jaskinia Zimowa. Both were opened by quarry operations in the Polom quarry (Góry Kaczawskie range, Sudetes, SW Poland). Both caves have very spectacular cave formations. Attempts at their legat protection meet opposition of the quarry management.

Kryształowa Cave, photo: M. Furtak

Biology

Living organisms in Polish caves - Janusz Baryła

The author describes living organism found in Polish caves. New biological systematics is presented and alt important groups of organisms are discussed.

Nimphargus taternsis (about 1,5 cm long), photo: A. W. Skalski

Microscope view (SEM technique) of stone milk structures (bacteries and calcite crystals), photo from archives of M. Gradziński

Other

Wieliczka Mine -another Crystal Chamber - Jerzy Przybyło

An underground cavern was found by drilling during conservation works in the Wieliczka salt Mine, between the gallery Uhlman and the lying 38 m lower gallery Seeling. Vision devices revealed the presence of large regular crystals of halite within the cavern. This seems to be a new, hitherto unknown, natural crystal chamber, similar to the two ones already known. The volume of the cavern is estimated at ca. 600 cubic metres.

Introscopic surveys, photo: J. Przybyło	One of the crystals, introscoping camera picture

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Last change 2001.03.13