The chatyr-dag caves are cold, thousand-headed. The incredible ice caves remain frozen even in summer! The mystery of the ice caves

Montenegro does not cease to attract and amaze tourists from all over the world with the wonders of nature, not only in the summer with its warm Adriatic Sea and diverse or in winter -. In addition, in Montenegro there are many more interesting, unusual and memorable things. Throughout the year, fans of active and extreme recreation, rock climbers and cavers are literally lured to the majestic Montenegrin mountains, which have preserved their pristine wild beauty, and little-studied caves hidden from the eyes of people in the bowels of the earth for many millennia.

According to speleologists, in Montenegro there is over 10 thousand different caves, but, unfortunately, due to the complexity of the route, many caves are accessible only to specialist speleologists, as well as to well-trained extreme lovers.

In fairness, it should also be noted that some caves in Montenegro are among the most beautiful speleological sites on a European and world scale. It is rather difficult to say which of the many caves in Montenegro is the most beautiful - they are all amazing and beautiful in their own way. In this article we will tell you about one of them ...
The Ice Age left behind impregnable rocks, deep canyons and many caves, one of which is the most famous, located in the central part of Montenegro and bears the name Icy.

Ice cave in Durmitor National Park.

Among all the attractions of Montenegro, it is very popular among outdoor enthusiasts and enjoys Ice cavelying in the bowels of the mountain at an altitude of 2180 meters above sea level in the central part of Montenegro. It is located 7 kilometers from the city, on the northeastern slope of the mountain, which from a distance resembles a human head, which is why it is called by the people - Obla chapter (Obla Glava from black "round head").
Cave coordinates: longitude 19.1064 latitude 43.1549

The ice cave is one of the natural wonders of the territory, which, in turn, has been a natural pearl of Montenegro for many years and in 1980 was included in UNESCO World Heritage List.

The entrance to the cave is covered with snow throughout the year, since in this place the mountain has a steep slope and the sun almost never appears here. The descent directly into the cave goes at a very steep angle and the cover of packed snow is almost always icy. Even an experienced climber is not so easy to go down there, and an amateur would be safer to admire the frozen beauty in the distance. But if you have already decided, then when going down, be extremely careful and, most importantly, carefully look under your feet.

Lifehack:It is sometimes quite difficult to get inside the cave without special equipment and training, therefore, for amateurs, the hot summer months are the most convenient time of the year to visit the cave. Better yet, go on a tour with an experienced instructor.


Inside the Ice Cave, there is an unusual natural museum of ice figures - numerous stalactites and stalagmites, of various shapes and sizes that do not melt even in the hottest weather. Basically, they resemble tall columns with a hole in the middle, since they are formed from water dripping from above and then freezing in the form of an ice column.
The length of the entire cave is about 100 meters, and one of its ice halls is 20 meters wide and 40 meters long.

Interesting Facts:Even in the middle of the hottest summer months, so cold water constantly drips from somewhere from the ceiling of the cave that, typing it into the palm, blood freezes. It is these drops, dripping and freezing in a natural way, that form numerous bizarre ice decorations, from the smallest to those that reach human height.


The bottom of the cave is also covered with ice, and some of the depressions form peculiar pools filled with water. From the main entrance into the depths of the Ice Cave, several long corridors leave, which attract many brave tourists who want to experience all the trails of Zabljak.

Lifehack:There is quite a lot of water in the cave - it drips literally from everywhere, moreover, it is crystal clear. That is why this place is ideal for refilling drinking water tanks for the return trip.

Naturally, all this natural splendor, the bewitching beauty of the underworld, cold mountain air, clear water, absolutely transparent ice and constant low temperature, which preserves all the cave treasures in its original form, attracts many different people visiting Montenegro every year. In order to conquer the peaks of the mountains in Durmitor and see an unusual cave, many tourists organize themselves as part of walking excursion groups, and some experienced climbers decide to do it in pairs or alone.

Hike to the Ice Cave.

The ice cave in Montenegro is accessible for visiting and inspection throughout the year. Several mountain hiking trails of different complexity lead to it, many of which originate from the famous, located near the town of Zabljak. The one-way hike to the Ice Cave, with halts and stops for photo shoots, will take 2-3 hours, and the total duration of the route can be from four to six hours, depending on preparation. But, believe me, the hike along its mountain ranges, as well as the descent into the kingdom of natural ice sculptures, is really worth it.

Lifehack:In addition to all the well-known trails, there is another shorter path that begins from the Saddle Pass in the Durmitor National Park. Whichever one you choose, you should not forget that in the mountains snow can lie until mid-June and, accordingly, you need to carefully select equipment for the hike.

Along the way, you come across pointers and special marks - red circles that help tourists not to go astray. But, despite this, it is rather difficult to find the Ice Cave on your own - therefore many tourists hire a guide for the hike.


When you reach your goal, magnificent views of the mountain ranges of Durmitor, forests and, hidden among centuries-old trees, Black Lake and the city of Zabljak will open before you in all its glory.

If you really love real adventures, are ready to experience an explosion of positive emotions and are not afraid of difficulties, then do not hesitate to go to the Ice Cave and your trip will be 100% justified!

It's amazing to be in a cave of snow and ice on a hot summer day! Tourists who have been there will agree that these mysterious places have their own microclimate. One of the few ice caves is located in the Shanxi province of China. Inside Ningwu, stalactites stretch from ceiling to floor. It is a dazzling sight, but not unique.

The mystery of the ice caves

Such amazing ice caves are scattered throughout continental Europe. They are available in Russia, Central Asia and North America. They have become attractions that tourists enjoy visiting. Travelers are attracted not only by the appearance, but also by the very mystery of the origin of such caves.

One of the first who decided to look into this wonderful world of ice and cold was George Forrest Brown. In 1861, he traveled to Switzerland and came across a small dark cave, the walls and ceiling of which were made of ice. Researcher Emil Racovita from the Romanian Institute of Speleology also wrote in his works that he will never forget his first trip to the ice cave.

Why is the temperature below zero in these caves? What is the uniqueness of these places?

Scientists began exploring ice caves 150 years ago, and there is still no consensus about why the ice in them does not melt. The version has been repeatedly put forward that the processes occurring in caves are associated with geothermal heat (coming from the hot mantle of the Earth). In other words, not all parts of the earth can see this phenomenon. Where it does not exist, caves with sub-zero temperatures have formed.

Hot "current" or cold air?

Everything would be logical, if not for the Ningwu cave (China). Scientists who conducted research in it unanimously say that if the reason for the formation of these places was a hot "current", then the surface would also undergo changes. However, the temperature at the entrance to the cave is 0 degrees Celsius, and at the surface - 17 degrees above zero.

Therefore, Chinese scientists put forward their hypothesis. In their opinion, the subzero temperature inside the cave is influenced not by geothermal heat, but by the air flow: cold, dense, winter air penetrates into the cave. If you measure the temperature inside every 5-10 minutes, you will notice that during this time a stream of new cold air comes in.

Form, passages, walls

It is worth paying close attention to the structure of the cave, which has a unique shape, a special arrangement of passages, as well as heat exchange with stone walls. All of this together creates a unique microenvironment in which cold air is trapped and stays here.

Cave Mathematical Model

Yaolin Shi created a mathematical model of the Ningwu Cave to show the movement of air. It can be compared to an 85-meter bowling pin, which is installed on the side of a mountain 2000 m above sea level. What is the air trap?

Cool air descends into the mouth of the cave in spring, summer and autumn. It heats up slightly, so it cannot affect the warming inside. In winter, the air temperature in the cave drops to -15 ° C. This is due to the fact that cold air penetrating downward displaces warm air. That is, the temperature in the cave drops noticeably.

But that's not all. The ice that forms in the cave acts as a buffer to stabilize the temperature. When warm air gets inside, some of the ice begins to melt. In this case, warm air at this stage of the path stops, as it loses all its energy. Therefore, the rest of the cave is protected from heating. The temperature inside is almost constant all year round. Some ice caves have multiple entrances. This undoubtedly affects the ice melting process.

Thus, we can say that the ice cave is the result of such processes as the exchange of air between the cave and the surface, geothermal "current", ice melting and freezing of water.

The caves are in danger

Ice caves are very vulnerable, they are quite unstable, especially given the constant climate change on the surface. Chinese scientists are already saying that some of them are in danger.

In the Heilongjiang province (China) there is the Wudalyanchi ice cave. To preserve it, a metal door was installed to protect the attraction from the warm summer air. However, this action puts the unique place at great risk: without an influx of cold air, the microclimate can change. And this threatens with serious consequences, that is, all the ice can completely melt within several decades. Do not block the flow of cold air.

Sometimes, in an effort to preserve the unique ice caves, people inadvertently harm them more. Good intentions are clear: a huge number of tourists come to them every day. Several caves are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Dobsinska Cave in Slovakia. Tourism can be used to preserve the ice caves.

Ningwu Cave is visited by 1000 visitors every day (open to travelers from May to October). Tourists spend almost an hour there. All this time, the cave is lit, about 200 electric bulbs are installed in it. Both tourists and light bulbs generate heat. Scientists are sure that it is not enough for the glacier to start melting. However, one important condition must be observed: a seasonal flow of cold air must constantly flow into the cave.

Also, climate change is a threat to ice caves. Winter has become shorter and warmer, as a result, less cold air enters the cave. Thus, the balance can be disturbed. Many ice caves have already been lost due to changes in climate. To assess all possible risks, scientists measure the thickness and density of the ice every year.

Well of knowledge

Ice caves are not only a sight, but also a storehouse of knowledge. Scientists say the ice contains pollen, leaf fragments and other biomass that can provide information about the life of our ancestors. The proportion of gases in the ice may shed light on the ancient composition of the atmosphere. A lot of valuable and useful information is hidden in the caves.

Winter's tale

Red trail

Red trail

Winter sun

Red trail

Tour at the top of the Red Trail

The weather in Crimea is an amazing thing, it is so unpredictable and changeable ... Yesterday, in our hike to the Ai-Petri plateau, we walked through mud and fog, fleeing the rain on the southern slopes. And today, having gone to Chatyrdag, we got back into winter. During this night, about 10 cm of snow fell! Although in Simferopol everything is gray and not a hint of snow. Arriving in Sosnovka in the morning, we were pleasantly surprised by such a surprise, we didn't even think of taking our shoe covers with us. And when on the road we saw snow in oncoming cars, we wondered where they could be covered with snow :) It's pretty cool in the valley, snow-white slopes, but thawed patches are already visible. The soil was warmed up, so the snow immediately partially melted. But the higher we climb the road, the more we find ourselves in the kingdom of winter. Above, the clouds are constantly creeping, now appearing, then disappearing again. A strong wind prevents them from closing the mountain, driving them back, and then again giving them the opportunity to crawl over the upper plateau. We climb the sunny Red Trail and admire the beauty of winter views. Today's Monday for a walk to Chatyrdag was chosen for a reason. Today is the day of the winter solstice, and it is on this day that the sun enters the Cold Cave during the day as deep and far as possible, illuminating it from the inside with its light. And if you're lucky, you can watch the sunbeam on the far walls of the cave. At other times of the year, very little light gets here.

Lower plateau of Chatyrdag

In the snow of Chatyrdag

Lower plateau cornices

On the lower plateau

Shadows

Reeds

Now about the cave itself. What is so remarkable about her? This is one of the many popular caves on the lower plateau of Chatyrdag available for mass visits. First, there is a condensation drainage basin inside the cave, which makes the cave a source of fresh water, but there is not much water. Secondly, a fantastic film was filmed here in the nineties, for which a symbolic drawing was applied to the wall, often passed off as an ancient rock painting. Thirdly, the volume of the cave itself amazes, it is far from small, the ceiling height of its main hall reaches 25 meters! All this attracts many tourists here, which, of course, adversely affected the cave - stalactites and drifts are broken off, often garbage at the entrance ... But these things are inevitable, unfortunately. It is not difficult to find a cave, in the Internet there are many descriptions and coordinates of the cave, so we will not dwell on a detailed description of its location. It is located about 20-30 minutes walk from the Onyx-Tour tourist center, practically near the road, past the Bottomless Cave. We got to Suuk-Koba at about 12:30, climbed inside to warm up and sat down to wait for a miracle. Unfortunately, the cloud on the upper plateau again tightened the horizons and blocked the sun from us. Therefore, the likelihood that it would again peep out of the mass of clouds was small ... During an hour and a half of our waiting, the sun appeared briefly only once - and it was clear that it was sinking lower and lower, but did not have time to illuminate the distant wall. I had to be content with only the general illumination of the cave, but this was enough to have an idea of \u200b\u200bthe volume of the cave and how it looks in daylight! After admiring this spectacle, we set off on the return journey. The sun was not visible, and even a cold north wind rose, blowing into the hoods. Therefore, we hastened to leave the winter as soon as possible, heading towards the Ishachya trail and Perevalnoye. Pictures of winter and Suuk-Koba are attached, instead of a thousand words!

The world of caves is amazing. Its rivers flow in it, in places spilling into miniature lakes, its own stone trees grow, its stone flowers bloom. They will never be revived by a ray of the sun, not illuminated for a moment by lightning - everything is shrouded in eternal darkness and deep silence. Everything that the world of caves is rich in is made by water. Water continuously destroys limestone, which, under its influence, easily dissolves and erodes. Calcium carbonate, dissolved in water, settles on the surface of the stone. Drop by drop, and gradually a tubercle appears, which eventually grows into a hanging icicle - a stalactite. Falling on the floor, a drop leaves a particle of mineral on it. A stalagmite grows from the floor towards the stalactite. Later they will merge into one powerful column. A number of columns, continuing to grow, create intricate partitions, whole forests of columns fill some caves. The originality, richness of forms created by nature defies description. The chatyr-Dag karst cavities can be divided into three groups:

Sports, access to which is difficult by natural obstacles; passing requires special equipment and certain knowledge, abilities and skills;

Generally accessible, these are not deep wells and horizontally inclined caves, visiting which do not require lengthy sports training and special equipment (this group includes Suuk-Koba, Binbash-Koba and many others)

Suuk-Koba is a cave on the yayla Nizhny Chatyr-Dag. The name "Suuk-Koba" is translated as "Cold Cave". Probably due to the temperature of 6 degrees inside. Kholodnaya Cave is located near the unequipped Tysyachegolova (Bin-Bash-Koba) cave, as well as the Marble and Mamontova cave.

Suuk-Koba begins with a huge, up to 25 meters high hall. A composition of stalactites, popularly called "organ", grows here: many stone icicles have intertwined into one structure, similar to organ pipes.

Further, the Suuk-Koba hall narrows and branches out in two directions. If you want to go to the right, you have to climb a little homemade steps. The steps in Suuk-Kobe, like in any other cave, are rather slippery, so you need to be extremely careful. If you go to the left, a passage through the numerous baths will lead to a hall with a column.

An extraordinary drawing is drawn on the wall of the cave near the fork. Don't be in a hurry to rejoice at the discovery of prehistoric cave paintings: in those days no one painted in colors and in proportions. They say that in the 90s, a film about cave dwellers was filmed on Chatyr-Dag, and Suuk-Kobu was not ignored. Now the drawing has become a local landmark.

Thousand-headed Cave (Binbash-koba) - a cave on the Yayla Nizhny Chatyr-Dag. The name "Binbash-Koba" is translated from Turkic as "The Cave of a Thousand Heads". Hence its second name - Thousand-headed. The length of the cave is 110 m. The cave is located not far from the Cold (Suuk-Koba) cave.

The name of the cave is not accidental. Since the middle of the 19th century, Binbash-Koba has been actively visited by local residents, as it has been known for many centuries. The first "explorers" found a lot of human skulls and bones in the cave, and literally in fifty years all the skulls were taken out of the cave at the Angarsk Pass and sold to the first Crimean tourists as "souvenirs from Chatyr-Dag".

As usual, there are two options for explaining such a large number of human remains in the cave: according to legend and from the point of view of logic.

Legend has it that once nomadic tribes attacked local villages. Residents in a hurry took refuge in a long-known cave, taking with them all their belongings and food. And so they would have sat out the raid of the nomads, but there was no water source in the cave. Therefore, every night, the most beautiful girl of the tribe with jugs of water left the cave and went to the nearest source for water. This went on for many days, but here's the problem: when the girl was carrying water, she splashing, irrigated the path, and after a while the path from the well to the cave was covered with beautiful flowers. The nomads discovered this, and tracked down where the fugitives were hiding. And since they did not want to surrender, the invaders lit a huge fire at the entrance, and all the inhabitants hiding in the cave perished.

There is also a more logical explanation. The Thousand-Head Cave has a very unusual shape: starting with a wide platform and a horizontal portal entrance, it passes into a gorge, and then opens up into a huge hall with dozens of stalactites and stalagmites. The ideal burial place for the dead is stately and quiet. It is believed that Bin-Bash Koba served as a ritual burial place for local tribes - this is confirmed by the fact that only skulls of adults were found in the cave.

The Thousandhead Cave has another feature. She is a perfect example of what becomes of a cave after opening it for "free access" to all comers. To our great regret, only traces of the rich and beautiful drip formations remained. Many giant columns of stalagmites have been knocked down to the floor, and on the walls are traces of axes of lovers of cave exoticism.

The cave is still worth a visit: even though it is desolate, there is some mysticism and awe of history in it.

Gugerjin Cave:

It has an entrance well up to 20 meters, with a total length of 60 meters. The cave is located in a forest 50 meters south of the Thousand-Head and not far from the Onyx shelter. Gugerjin is one of the most popular caves among aspiring speleologists. It has one hall, divided by leaks into six chambers. The cave is easy to climb / climb and is very beautiful.

Bottomless Cave is located in the Crimea, on the lower plateau of Chatyr-Dag. Other names for this cave in Crimea are Bottomless Well and Bottomless Mine. According to modern concepts of geology, this Crimean cave is not a well, but a complex combination of a shaft that opens the cave and the cave itself. The Bottomless Cave has become known since the end of the 19th century. This cave of Crimea is of a vertical type, the entrance to it is located at an altitude of about 1 km, at the bottom of a karst sinkhole. The total length of the Bezdonnaya cave is 410 meters, its depth is about 195 meters.

The descent to the cave is not equipped for normal visits. You can get into this mysterious Crimean cave only with equipment, as part of a group of speleologists or sportsmen.