Snow tunnels and caves in Kamchatka. The Swallow Cave is an amazing natural phenomenon that must be visited when traveling in Mexico

• Karl Walter Claus Carstens (German: Karl Walter Claus Carstens; December 14, 1914, Bremen - May 30, 1992, Meckenheim, North Rhine-Westphalia) is a German conservative politician and statesman, a prominent figure in the CDU.
• Cave in the rock
• The world famous Postojnska Jama Cave is located on this plateau.
• Dissolution of sedimentary rocks (limestone, gypsum) by groundwater with the formation of caves, gullies, gaps, etc.
• The cave as a natural phenomenon
• Underground cave with river or lake
• The plateau in Yugoslavia, which gave the name to the geological phenomenon
• Phenomena arising in water-soluble sedimentary rocks (hollows, gaps, caves)
• The state of the earth's surface in areas where the soil is formed of coarse-grained sedimentary soluble in natural waters
• Rains - atmospheric precipitation falling from clouds in the form of liquid droplets with an average diameter of 0.5 to 6-7 mm.
• A phenomenon never seen before in the Chilean Atacama Desert
• Moderately blessed phenomenon of nature
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• Rime - a type of precipitation, is a crystalline or granular ice deposits on thin and long objects (tree branches, wires) in wet frosty weather.
• A natural phenomenon
• Phenomenon of nature, similar to frost
• Weather phenomenon
• Rainbow is an atmospheric, optical and meteorological phenomenon observed when illuminated by a bright light source (in nature by the Sun or the Moon - see.
• Natural optical phenomenon
• Natural seven-color phenomenon
• A natural phenomenon
• Optical phenomenon
• Optical phenomenon after rain
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Armenia is a very beautiful land with an ancient history - it is the first country to adopt Christianity as a state religion. It is famous for the world-famous cognac, and its mineral springs are no worse than those in other parts of the world.

Armenian temples and churches excite, causing pacification, the turquoise Lake Sevan, framed by mountains and clouds bathing in it, enchants and delights, and vineyards, trees and bushes ripen under the sun's rays against the backdrop of the regally magical Ararat.

Armenia tells about itself with an incomparable melody, which the duduk "sings", as if it has absorbed all the soul and wisdom of the Armenian people.

We present to you some of the most mysterious and majestic places in Armenia, which amaze with their natural landscape, unique forms and conceal centuries-old mysteries that have yet to be solved ...

Natural "umbrellas" in the Hunot gorge

One of the wonders of Armenia is the waterfalls in the gorge of the Karkar River. Near the town of Shushi, the river forms the deepest gorge in the country, 300-350 m deep.

At the bottom of the gorge, from the tributary of the river, a strong spring gushes out of the rock, which, descending from the stone walls of the cave, flows into the river, forming an incredible cascade of waterfalls.

Over the centuries, the water, with its soft current, has fed millions of algae that hang over the "arches" of the cave, forming a natural phenomenon similar in appearance to umbrellas.

The waterfall is called Mamrot Kar, but the locals nicknamed it Ovanots, which means an umbrella in Russian.

Symphony of stones

Near the legendary Garni temple, there is a canyon of the Azat River, it is an incredible natural monument.

Its walls, as if carved by a human hand, are formed of basalt hexagons that resemble organ pipes in their appearance, for which they received the name - Symphony of Stones.

These rocks, from below, rise to the very top of the gorge. The natural composition is also called "Symphony of the Rocks" or "Basalt Organ".

The Symphony of Stones is included in the list of natural monuments and is protected by law.

Lake Sevan

The adornment of the country is the incredible Lake Sevan - the largest of the high mountains, and the largest in the Caucasus. It is located in the heart of the mountains at an altitude of about 2000 m above sea level.

The water in it is clear and clean. Ancient legends say that gods and stars quenched their thirst from it. Sevan National Park is located around the lake.

There are many historical monuments, famous fortresses, old monastic complexes and Cyclopean buildings of the Urartian period in Sevan.

Particularly interesting is the monastery complex on the Sevan peninsula - 878 years old.

Bridge of satan

Armenia also has a unique natural monument - Satani Kamurj or Devil's Bridge. This natural miracle can be seen on the road leading from the village of Halidzor to the village of Tatev (the Goris-Tatev highway runs along it).

It is a naturally formed bridge over the Vorotan River. At the base of the bridge, on the banks of the river, there are many beautiful waterfalls descending from the rocks.

Depressions, niches and even small caves were formed there. There are stalactites and small natural pools with mineral water, the temperature of which is 25 ° C.

The rocks themselves are mainly composed of yellowish and pink travertine, as well as limestone, which is simply a mesmerizing picture of bright colors.

Acna lich

Lake Akna is of volcanic origin. It is located in the Geghama Mountains, at an altitude of 3300 m above sea level and an area of ​​0.5 m2. The lake is filled with spring waters. It is surrounded by volcanic cones and alpine meadows.

The lake water is fresh and clean. The sky and mountains are mirrored in the lake. This lake is considered one of the most picturesque places in Armenian nature.

Natural pyramids

The city of Goris is located in the wooded part of the Vararak River. The surroundings of the city are full of unusual structures: towers, castles, pyramids and caves. Old Goris is completely built of "karataker" (house in the rocks), very similar to the pyramids.

Each such "apartment" has a window, a door and a stove. Doors and windows are 4–5 meters above the ground. People used wicker stairs to enter the apartments. According to locals, there were 700-800 such apartments in the old town. This area will be protected, as well as natural and historical value.

Lake Parz

Parz Lich (Armenian Parz - transparent, Lich - lake) is a small lake, which is located high in the mountains of Armenia, not far from the city of Dilijan, on the forest slope of the Areguni mountain ranges.

The lake is closely surrounded by dense forests and is considered one of the most beautiful places in the country. The maximum depth of the lake is only five meters, but the water in it is so clean that the lake was called Transparent or Clear.

Bear cave

This cave is also one of the natural wonders of Armenia, it is located in Vayots Dzor, near the city of Yerevan, near the Noravank monastery complex.

The temperature inside the cave does not change all year round - +9 ° C. Huge cave halls of karst origin, "lined" with all kinds of incrustations (stalagmites, curtains, stalagnates, stalactites and coralls) create a truly majestic picture.

An underground lake and a cave river give the place a mysterious and fabulous look. And, of course, the underground siphon deserves special attention.

Kasakh waterfall

Kasakh waterfall is the highest in the territory of Armenia. Its height is 70 meters, and it is located on the Kasakh River in the Aragatsotn region.

Once powerful lava flows covered many river channels, and although some rivers still managed to keep the current under the earth's surface, most of them were unable to withstand the stone element. Including - an ancient watercourse, the channel of which is located in the thickness of volcanic rocks. It runs along the perimeter of the modern Kasakh River and is called Paleokasakh.

The strong lava flows that buried it became waterproof, hence the new surface Kasakh arose. The revived river cut through a 90-kilometer canyon, and now this pristine beauty is breathtaking: so you can see the bizarre relief, grottoes and mountain caves.

The waters of Kasakh, breaking against the rapids, noisily fall into a deep gorge, thereby forming the Kasakh waterfall.

Lake Tsakhkunyats

Tsaghkunyats is a mountain lake located in the middle part of the Tsakhkunyats ridge, at an altitude of 2,450 meters above sea level. It has only rain supply, and in winter it is covered with ice.

The lake, although small, is very beautiful and fabulous, it is surrounded by picturesque mountains and meadows.

Shaki waterfall

The Shaki River is a small tributary of the turbulent Vorotan, and its length is only 18 km, but in the absence of it, it forms an amazingly beautiful waterfall, which is a natural landmark of Armenia.

The waterfall blends perfectly with the view of the nearby Paleolithic caves. The territory of the Shaki waterfall is called the "archaeological storeroom", as there are several unique grottoes in this place, in which primitive people lived.

Araks river

The Araks is the largest river in the Armenian Highlands (995 km long). The Araks current is very strong, especially during spring floods, when it overflows the banks, thereby washing away crops and destroying bridges. But it also saturates its shores with moisture, forming lush gardens on them.

Much fertility is marked by silt deposits, which for many centuries the river covered most of the Ararat plain.

Mount Ararat

And in conclusion, I would like to tell you about the famous Ararat - the symbol of Armenia. Nature clearly did not stint, creating this miracle, endowed with incredible strength and spirit.

Ararat (in Armenian Masis) is a volcanic massif that consists of two extinct volcanoes: Small Ararat and Big Ararat. This splendor of nature perfectly reflects the majesty and history of the country.

Ararat is covered with eternal snows and its fantastic view is simply mesmerizing.
For Armenians, this mountain is considered sacred. According to Biblical sources, Noah's ark stuck to its top.

I. Caves are a unique natural phenomenon.

A person is always attracted by the unknown, the mysterious, hidden in darkness. The caves are probably the most striking example of the Mystery created by nature. When a person enters the narrow or wide passages of the "underground palaces", he can be seized by either anxiety and fear, or indomitable curiosity - both attracts, forces him to return to the solution of this riddle again and again. Moreover, caves are a rather rare geological phenomenon. They allow a person to look deep into the Earth, find out the contents of its bowels, look at the grandiose, impressive work of water.

Yes, it is water that is the creator of caves, or rather, underground waters. They travel through voids and cracks in the earth's crust and build their paths, penetrating and dissolving rocks. Moreover, some rocks give in to water quite quickly (carbonate, sulfate and chloride), while others remain unchanged. Thousands, millions of years pass in this way - caves and multi-storey labyrinths are formed, along which underground rivers often flow. This natural phenomenon is called karst.

The caves also attract with their beauty. Drops of water, saturated with calcium bicarbonate, build bizarre sculptures: stalactites "grow" from the ceiling of the cave, and stalagmites on the floor, when they join, columns are formed. The cave turns into an underground city or garden.

Throughout the world, people's interest in caves has gone through several stages in time. For primitive people, they were dwellings and temples. Since the Age of Enlightenment, the caves began to attract the attention of scientists, whose interest was spurred on by the finds of human and animal bones of the "antediluvian" period made in the caves. In the second half of the 19th century, at the junction of geology and geography, geomorphology arose, whose representatives paid considerable attention to caves. At the same time, the aesthetic, scientific and educational value of caves as unique natural, historical and cultural objects was realized - speleology was born.

The most popular among tourists are not the deepest (Jean-Bernard well in the Savoy Alps - 1410 meters) and not the longest (Flint-Mamontov's cave in the USA - 341.1 kilometers), but the most beautiful and accessible caves. Kungurskaya "ice" cave in the Urals stretches "only" 5.6 kilometers. The amazing color and bizarre shapes of stalactites and stalagmites, a complex combination of limestone and ice build-ups make the cave look like a fabulous underground kingdom. The most famous in the Caucasus is Anakopia (New Athos) cave. The natural entrance to it is in a funnel in the middle of the forest on Mount Iverskaya. To enter the giant halls of the cave, you need to descend 139 meters vertically. The cave is equipped for tourists: a tunnel for an electric train has been made in the "body" of the mountain. In the USA, at the foot of the Guadalupe Mountains, in the south of New Mexico, there is the famous Karslab Cave (length - 33 kilometers, depth - 313 meters), which has several floors. It is visited by numerous tourists, is electrified, equipped with lifts and eateries.

^ II. Tavdinskie caves are a favorite place for tourists.

There are quite a few caves in the Altai Territory. The most famous of them: Geofizicheskaya, Altai, Tavdinskie - these are the favorite places of tourists traveling in Altai Mountains.

The most accessible for visiting are the Tavdinsky caves. Despite the fact that they are located in sheer cliffs and on the steep slopes of the Tavdinskaya mountain, it is quite easy to visit them - an asphalt road leads to them and special steps are made (Fig. 3 and 4), and electricity was even supplied to the Tavdinskaya-2 cave for convenience tourists. Since the caves are a well-known and popular tourist destination, almost every resort in the area provides information posters informing about the time, duration and cost of excursions through them. The very entrance to the natural monument has long turned into a place for a comfortable stay of guests with numerous cafes, kiosks with souvenirs and even holiday houses. It is also attractive that not far from the Tavdinsky caves there are other sights of Altai: Lake Aya, Lake Manzherok, Kamyshlinsky waterfall, the Arzhan-Suu spring.

The Tavda caves got their name from the name of the village of Tavda (the second name is Talda), which was previously located not far from these places. The local population has a romantic legend about the origin and name of these caves:

“For a long time, no one remembers exactly when, Khansha Tavda lived in the mountains. She was known among people as such a curmudgeon, which the world had never seen. And, although she had a myriad of riches, she came up with new tricks just to rob people to the bone. But where she put the goods taken from people: cattle, harness, poultry, killed game - no one could understand. Everything that was brought to her yurt and piled up in whole heaps disappeared before our eyes, as if it fell into the ground. The hunters of all sables, goats, and red deer were killed in the whole district, and Tavda was increasing the quitrent.

She threatened that if the tribute was not paid on time, then she would take away their children from the involuntary people. He will take his sons into his army, and his daughters into slavery - weave carpets, milk goats and do all the dirty work. Day and night hunters rushed about the deserted taiga. Dejected, with empty nets, fishermen wandered into poor yurts, and no fish had been found in lakes and rivers for a long time. Everything disappeared into the insatiable, bottomless womb of the greedy Tavda.

Nobody knew how long it would go on. Yes, aliens showed up in those places: husband and wife, young, good-looking. Soon good fame went to all the nearest camps about them. Manzherok, that was the name of the man, was strong, he was dexterous even when hunting, even when fishing. And he conquered everyone by the fact that he knew how to sculpt all kinds of dishes from clay. When he took out his marvelous bowls from the hot oven and gave them to the poor, there was no end to the joy. Katyng, that was the name of his slender green-eyed wife, conquered everyone with her ability to embroider carpets with outlandish birds, animals and flowers, and weaving fishing nets, which were not seen in those places.

The fame of the young artisan family soon reached Tavda. She even shook her hands with anger when she saw their creations. Immediately she overlaid with such a large rent that a dozen craftsmen would not have been able to afford. Imagine the surprise of the khan's servants when, by the appointed time, the khanshi Manzherok and Katyng came to the yurt almost empty-handed. The master had only one jug in his hands, and the master had only one fishing net ... “Listen to us, lady, our tribute to you is not easy,” began Manzherok. "Here is my jug, it has no bottom, you pour as much kumis into it as all your subjects will cook it." “This is my net,” Katyng continued. "Your servants will use it to catch all the fish from the rivers and lakes of Altai." And in the net there were cells of such a large size that it was clear that no fish would be held!

Tavda understood that the masters simply laughed at her greed. She struck Manzherok with the enchanted staff, he immediately turned into a beautiful lake. When the staff touched the braid of the green-eyed Katyng, she managed to run away to the side, and so splashed in the impetuous run of the white-foam beauty of the Katun River. And before her death she managed to shout to her beloved - "Goodbye!" And she threw a handful of needles into the water, with which she embroidered her beautiful carpets. These needles scattered along the bottom of the lake and grew into an outlandish nut - chilim.

Tavda, finding himself on the left bank of the river, became furious because they dared to deceive her. And out of anger she stamped her foot so that she, along with her good, fell into the ground. And in the place where it happened, not far from one another, holes are visible. These are the entrances to the Tavdinskie caves. Many things people took out of them when they found them. There were fishing nets and pottery - a lot of all kinds of good! This is the wealth of the Khansha Tavda. And the entrances to the Tavdinsky caves are guarded by the Lunar Sable. It was carried on the shoulders of a greedy khansha. He kept track of her riches, and now he guards them in the Tavdinsky caves. "

The Tavdinsky caves are located in the Altai region of the Altai Territory, but access to them is possible only from the Chuysky tract through the territory of the Altai Republic, with which the Altai Territory borders on the Katun River, it can be moved along a new iron bridge (paid passage) leading to the tourist complex "Turquoise Katun ". There are caves on the left bank of the Katun River, 200 meters from it, 10-15 kilometers above the confluence of its left tributary of the Ustyub River; 10-12 kilometers south of the village of Nizhnyaya Kayancha, almost opposite the village of Izvestkovy on the Chuisky tract. Their geographical coordinates are 51 0 47 'north latitude, 85 0 40' east longitude.

There is a whole complex of karst formations, which includes about 30 caves: Bolshaya Taldinskaya, Tavdinskaya-2, Medvezhya nora, Teremok, Pogrebok, Skvoznaya, Pigeon, Sports, Bad dreams, Roll call, Wide gates, Picturesque, Leaders, Tiny, Snake, Tronnaya, Cuttlefish, Clay, Big Gate, Ichthyandra Grotto, Krotovskiy Grotto and others - all of them are of varying size and degree of development, and a beautiful karst arch. An unforgettable view of the Katun River and the Chuisky tract opens from the top of the Tavdinskaya Mountain. This view makes everyone stop and think, gives rise to philosophical reflections in the souls of people:

“Nature is a miracle. The real idea that this is Gorny appeared exactly when we came to Katun. We walked along the left bank, where I would never even think to go! Great. Unusual. This is a real Gorny, and not the one that was brought up in me since childhood, that Gorny - Chuisky, which we drove by in an air-conditioned car at a speed of 100 km per hour. The distance that we have covered in these ten days, I could have covered in 30 minutes by car. But only now I recognized the real Gorny. Maybe it happened when we were climbing the pass, or when I was sitting today on a rock and looking at the Chuisky tract, which was a small strip on the other side of the river, small shiny cars were driving along it, so tiny! Or when I was looking at a lake surrounded by mountains. At such moments, you understand that this world was really created by God and all your affairs are so petty and insignificant ... Or when I walked through this dark cave, created by small drops of water. They are so mysterious and beautiful ... "

^ III. The history of the development and study of the Tavdinsky caves.

Tavdinsky caves have been known for a long time. They, apparently, began to be visited by tourists and summer residents who stayed in Manzherok since the beginning of the 20th century. In any case, when the first mentions of caves appeared (the first list of natural monuments compiled by N.A. Khrebtov in 1919), they were already popular excursion sites. The caves have retained this popularity to this day.

In 1926, an article by the geologist M.I. Krot-Donorskiy about the Tavdinsky caves, which he explored in 1920, being the director of the Biysk Museum. This is the first, in fact, speleological work in Altai, accompanied by the very first plans of the caves, quite well executed. M.I. The mole made archaeological finds in two caves, and in two others discovered earthworks with masonry. In several caves, he observed traces of recent human habitation. Either someone took refuge in the caves during the civil war, or the old believers were hiding there earlier.

Subsequently, the caves and finds in them were mentioned in a number of articles and tourist guides. Since 1960, the Tavdinsky caves have been attracting the attention of speleologists and karst scientists from all over the country. In 1968, the caves were explored by the joint group of the Karst group of ZSGU under the leadership of G.P. Sharikhina and the third Altai expedition of the speleological section of TSU under the leadership of V. Chukov. But so far, many caves on Tavdinskaya Mountain have been poorly studied.

For a long time, scientists have been looking for writings here. The information that in the Tavdinsky caves or on the rocks next to the caves there are rock carvings of ancient people made by ocher was received in different years by archaeologists A.P. Okladnikov, V.D.Kubarev, museum workers B.Kh. Kadikov and S.S. ... In 1968, these drawings were unsuccessfully searched for by the members of the TSU speleological expedition, in the 1970s Academician A.P. Okladnikov, in 1981 V.K. Wistinghausen. But all searches in this direction were fruitless.

IV. Geology.

This area was first explored in 1930 by K.V. Radugin. He worked in the basins of the rivers Maima, Kayas, Saidys - as a result, he noted the wide distribution of marbles and quartzites here. In the same year, Kraevskaya studied the basins of the Kamenka, Ustyuba and Sema rivers, indicating a significant distribution of limestone and marble along the Ustyuba river. In 1933, the geologist Nenakhov conducted research in the Chemal river basin, he noted that this area is composed of Proterozoic and Cambrian marbles and limestones broken by acid intrusions. In 1942-1944 M.K. Vinkman and S.F. Dubinkin investigated the geological structure of the northern part of Gorny Altai and identified the age units of the Borotal Formation and the Kayachin Formation. In 1948 and 1949, the first geological maps of the area were compiled.

In the 50s of the XX century, in connection with the unfolding construction, a large amount of building materials was required in the Altai Territory. In particular, it became necessary to prepare a raw material base for facing marbles. That is why in 1955 the Glavgeologiya MPSM - USSR instructed the Sibgeolnerud trust to conduct prospecting work in the Maiminsky region, the Gorno-Altai autonomous region and the Altai region, the Altai region - the so-called Katunskoye marble deposit - in order to prepare marble reserves. To accomplish this task, the West Siberian expedition of the Sibgeolnerud trust organized the Maiminskaya prospecting and geological party, which began field work in May 1955. In the same year, the party surveyed six sites, of which Izvestkovy 1 and Tavdinsky were chosen as the most promising for a number of factors, moreover, limestones in the site were recommended as raw materials for air lime, and not as a facing stone.

Studies have shown that the Tavdinsky site is composed of limestones of the Kayanchinsky formation. It is in this part of the Katunskoe deposit that there is an areal distribution of limestones, which form a number of hills in this area, including the Tavdinskaya Gora. Its maximum height is 882 meters above sea level, while the level of the Katun River in this area is at around 320 meters. Consequently, the relative excess is 400-500 meters. Marble in the form of rocky outcrops can be traced along the Katun River for 4 kilometers.

The marble is gray, light gray with a bluish tint, dolomite, massive or banded. The strike of the marble strata is submeridional, the dip is western at an angle of 40-65 0. The age of the marbles is Lower Cambrian. The thickness of the sediments is small, not exceeding 1.5 meters, and they are represented by Quaternary yellow-brown clay with fragments of marble and other rocks.

In the conditions of the modern climate, the formation of local relief forms is influenced by vigorous frost weathering and karst phenomena. Some parts of Altai with distribution of limestone bear clear features of a karst landscape.

Taldinsky karst massif consists of two limestone cliffs. The length of rocks with caves along the coast is about 5 kilometers. The southern cliff (Mount Mokhnatukha, 863.1 meters) is monolithic, while the northern one is divided by logs and canyons into separate groups of rocks. The cliffs rise above the second (10-15 meters) above-floodplain terrace of the Katun River, overgrown with a pine forest with an admixture of birch. The massif caves are located at an altitude of 40-200 meters above the river. At the junction of the rocks with the second terrace, there are several minor niches. The Ichthyandra Grotto cave stands apart. Its entrance is located in the south-facing steep of the Katun cliff at water level, and the other two are represented by craters on the surface of the 2nd terrace, connected by wells to the lower part of the cave.

V. Monument of nature.

As part of the specially protected natural areas of the Altai Territory, a category has been allocated - a natural monument (the law of the Altai Territory of December 26, 1996). The status of the monuments is fixed by resolutions of the regional administration No. 234 dated April 13, 1998 and No. 568 dated July 21, 2000. At present, 143 natural monuments of regional and federal significance have been legally registered on the territory of the Altai Territory. Among them there are separate groups: geological, hydrological, botanical. Some of the monuments are only conditionally assigned to one group or another, but in essence they are complex. The group of geological natural monuments comprises 63 objects. The overwhelming majority of them are located in the south of the region - in the mountains and foothills of Altai.

Tavdinsky caves are also a geological natural monument, which has been visited by more than one thousand tourists since its opening. The "guests" caused enormous damage to the caves: everyone seeks to take with them a piece of this "beauty" or leave a memory of themselves here in the form of an inscription on the wall. Caves are also damaged by mining near limestone, scaring away and destroying bats and other inhabitants, unauthorized excavations, and destruction of stalactites and stalagmites.

Taldinsky karst massif is a complex (landscape) nature reserve. The officially registered geological natural monuments are Tavdinskaya-1 (Bolshaya Taldinskaya) cave and Tavdinskaya-2 cave. Their profile is geomorphological. They are natural monuments of regional (regional) significance. Their status was confirmed by the resolution of the Altai Territory Administration dated April 13, 1998 No. 234 "On natural monuments of marginal significance in the Altai Territory." nature on April 24, 1998, the protection obligations were drawn up.

Tourism is an acceptable use of this natural monument. It is prohibited on its territory and security zone:

1. Damage to landforms;

2. Excavation of loose and rocky rocks;

3. Damage and destruction of soil;

4. Cattle grazing;

5. Deforestation of forests and bushes;

6. Waste disposal.

The most visited cave in the Tavdinsky massif is Bolshaya Taldinskaya, its other name is "Maiden's Tears". It is a system of two grottoes. The lower entrances to it are 70-80 meters from the road. The main gallery is quite spacious and gradually rises. The difference from the lowest entrance to the highest is 23 meters. On the last 40-meter section, in front of the highest entrance, the gallery, rising, twists in a spiral, overlapping its lower part and forming a ledge. The area of ​​natural monuments is 0.2 hectares.

^ Cave Tavdinskaya-2 is located at an altitude of 100 meters from the foot of the Tavdinskaya mountain. Its length is 250 meters, volume is 1200 m 3. The cave is dry and through, has five entrances, is an arched grotto, there are no drip formations. The area of ​​the natural monument is 9 hectares. Protected zone of geological natural monuments 75 hectares.

Is unique and ^ Tavdinskaya karst arch ... It represents a rare form - the remnant of the vault of a karst tunnel or cave, which initially had the appearance of a wide span - a bridge, and later - an arch. The Tavdinskaya Arch is located at an altitude of about 80 meters above the water level of the Katun River. The width of the through hole of the arch ranges from 3 to 13 meters, the height - from 3 to 5 meters. The arch vault, 5 meters thick, is covered with rare herbaceous vegetation and pine trees. Since 1996 it has had the status of a natural monument.

Effective protection of caves requires regular inspection and regulation of economic and excursion and tourist activities in their vicinity.

Swallow Cave(Spanish Sótano de las Golondrinas, English Cave of Swallows) - karst origin in Mexico, in the state of San Luis Potosi. In shape, it is a cone-shaped (or bottle-shaped) karst sinkhole expanding downward.

The opening of the Swallow Cave on the surface of the earth has an elliptical shape (round in plan, since it is located on a slope) and has dimensions of 49 by 62 meters, the depth of the hole is from 333 to 376 meters (the hole on the surface is located on the slope).

Especially after the rainy season there is faster water, but now it was only in August that we could go a little. The river has relatively large waterfalls in a relatively short stretch, creating "pools" in which you can relax. You can do this yourself by car or even take a bus from Ciudad Valles, which will take you off the road right at the entrance. You will save a lot because you will find many certified river guides who offer this experience for 150 pesos.

We were not shy, wearing the obligatory vests and helmets, and they were already climbing the stairs to get to the start of the route. At the initial waterfall, we made a couple of test jumps from a cliff of 2 and 4 meters in order to prepare for the higher cascades and go on a journey on the water. The first small adrenaline rush was the search for a large waterfall. The water burst and hid my eyes when it was unpleasant for me, but for a moment we were behind a white curtain under a rock where water flowed. Then we'll just let it drift.

At the bottom it has an elongated shape, close to an oval with one almost flat side. The volume of space is estimated at 33110 m³. The bottom and passages to deeper levels, which probably exist, are still poorly explored.

There is a narrow footpath and a dirt road leading to the Swallows Cave, which can only be used by off-road vehicles.

The first 4-meter waterfall is a test, a technique, so we know how to jump and jump. Of course, we did it twice from Mira. Then it went smoothly, mainly because of the vest. We threw towel towels over and over again, paid, gave a guide with a dagger and quickly burned south, to tuna tankin, to take a boat ride to Tamul waterfall. They told us that no one else would be able to take us at this hour and that the cost of the boat was 600 pesos, regardless of the number of people, but we did not let this be disappointed and we got out.

Especially do not let the "guided" local guides right in the village that you park and go with them. It's far from the village! You can meet people like this along the way, but you can get to the car where you can go. At first we wanted to join the group, but most of them were quite a lot, and they fell out of the "losers". Finally, our grandfather approached us and offered us his services. The contract ended at 300 pesos to the satisfaction of both parties and we went out with our own boat down the river.

Its dimensions are such that it can easily fit the famous New York skyscraper Chrysler Building.

The Swallow Cave was known to people who have inhabited this area since ancient times. The first documentary research was carried out on December 27, 1966.

In recent years it has become a favorite spot for base jumpers.

Part of the filming of the film "Sanctum" took place there.

The journey was really endless and we had nothing to do, it was raining. We were confident in the Mira waterproof camera, at least for now. Tamul Falls, which measures one hundred meters high and about 300 meters wide, unfortunately cannot get close to the boat for safety, so we mostly saw only part of this giant. But if you ever get the chance to get here, you can buy alpine skis to enjoy the waterfall.

In the morning we got up at five o'clock because we recommend locals to get out on time to avoid the Sotano de las Golondrinas swallows. This cave, about 400 meters deep in free fall, is one of the largest "holes" in the world and is considered the most beautiful. This karst formation was created by water erosion in a limestone fissure. The typical feature is the diameter of the cave, which extends deeper in the direction. As an ordinary observer, you only see a circular hole with a diameter of about 60 meters.

The Spanish name for the cave comes from the Mexican name for swallows - Golondrinas. However, it is inhabited by swifts of the Black Swift species and parrots of the Mexican Arabinga species.

Flora and fauna of the Swallow Cave

In the morning, flocks of birds fly in a spiral, gaining altitude, until they reach the exit from it. In the evenings, swifts come back, and they dive in flocks of several dozen individuals until they reach the level of their nesting in it. Bird watching has become one of the favorite activities of tourists visiting the entrance to it.

When you dare to get close and the volunteers are supplying you with a rescue rope, you lean to the edge in amazement because it is deep. Previously, paratroopers jumped off. Especially thanks to the average 300m rock bottom, it was safe, but not for the swallows that remained in the cave, so this activity was later banned and you can now shell out the bottom for a lot of money.

Our ouasta cognition is not yet complete. In total, the surreal buildings are built in a rainforest on an area of ​​32 hectares that flows across a clear river and forms cascades and natural pools. These are incredible structures that often don't end or begin.

The Swallow Cave is also quite densely populated with insects and snakes. Due to the large amount of guano on the floor of the cave, fumes, the presence of a large number of bacteria in the air, and fungi and mold on the walls.

The floor of the pit is covered with the excrement of millions of birds. This excrement, rainwater, and debris from the surface is the food base of the numerous animals on the cave floor. There are centipedes and insects, snakes and scorpions. The air is filled with odors, fungi and bacteria. It is possible to be at the bottom without a breathing mask, but cavers who want to explore the far reaches should bring additional equipment with them.

In this garden of forms, you can walk all day without any luck. He began to explore Mexico and, on the way to Huastza, he was deeply interested in the orchids that were growing there. The rain through which the river flowed attracted him so much that he decided to dock and create paradise there. He began to grow more orchids and exotic plants, creating terraces and fences for the animals he cared for. He had many exotic birds, deer, small steel, turtles, toucan, ducks, flamingos and many others.

This awakened in James's idea, which was the beginning of the magnificent buildings that we can see today. The idea of ​​this project was to create forms that would fit into the natural landscapes of the rainforest, to create something as majestic and charming as his orchids, without destroying anything.

To protect nature, the Swallow Cave and its unique ecosystem, the researchers agreed to use only one descent point. This place is equipped with rope bolts. Another point is the time of day, birds fly out of it in the morning and arrive in the evening. Explorers, and especially base jumpers, should be kept quiet at this time of day.

An integral part of this project were his friends and artists Plutarco Gastlum, who figured as the administrator for the construction of buildings, and Don José Aguilar Camacho, who created the wooden molds for casting concrete, which were later recognized as a critical piece for their traditional processing. So, as you walk through this amazing garden, you can see orchids, bowls of different colors, shapes that resemble mingling flamingos, bamboo clusters, stairways to the sky, and many other formations that let your imagination run wild.

In depth, it is the 2nd deepest in Mexico, and the 11th deepest in the world. It is the depth that attracts many tourists and especially fans of such extreme sports as base jumping (skydiving from any heights).

Giant beauties discovered thanks to mining

There are many other photographs to be found in the gallery. In the Mexican semi-desert, about 100 kilometers southeast of Chihuahua city, there are the Nike Mountains. It literally intertwines with a network of cracks and natural caves. Cracks in the mountains, once deep in the Earth, penetrated the surface of mineral springs. The water cooled up the road, which led to the precipitation and crystallization of minerals. The stone cavities were filled with ores rich in silver, lead and zinc. These metals have also been mined and some mines are still in operation.

A person without a parachute would fall for about 12 seconds, from top to bottom. As a result, many extreme enthusiasts are taking up the challenge to jump off the edge.

There was also a case where a medium-sized balloon was carried from the bottom of the cave through its 45-meter entrance.

The Swallow Cave is also a popular spot for experienced cavers. Descent to the bottom can take about 20 minutes. Descend there by rope. But the way back is a real challenge to your powers!

The researcher has to climb up a single rope using the clamps, which is very tedious. This is a minimum of 40 minutes of tremendous stress, even for extremely trained researchers it is a serious challenge. And for normal, physically fit people, the journey takes about two hours.

There is also a psychological point here: height is not the only problem, width makes it much lighter and looks smaller than it actually is. Our brains cannot accurately estimate real distances. Therefore, the climber forces himself to work hard without any visible progress.

The Swallow Cave has many gentle slopes and stepped transitions. So descending, and even more so to climb the slopes, is a difficult task.

You can endlessly admire the ingenious creations of nature. One of these amazing places is cave of Swallows... It is located in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi and is considered the deepest cave in Mexico.

The Swallow Cave can be reached by bus from Mexico City or Monterey in about 5 hours. The bus ticket costs about $ 30.

You can get to the cave along a dirt road, which can only be driven by off-road vehicles.

When we first saw the cave, it didn't seem too big to us. But in reality it is just huge. The shape of the cave resembles a giant bottle: a vertical "neck" with a diameter of 55 meters expands to 140-160 meters. Its depth is whole 376 meters away! For comparison, one of the New York skyscrapers can be hidden in it.

The people who inhabited this area knew about the existence of the cave for a long time, but the first documentary studies were made here only in December 1966.

The Swallow Cave is home to many colonies of not only swallows, but also other birds, including parrots.

In the morning, millions of birds fly out of the cave and rapidly rise to the sky. And with the onset of evening, you can watch the birds return to the cave and fall like a stone inside. It is a very impressive and unforgettable sight to watch how birds, like stones, fall right into the abyss of the cave and stop near their nests.

You can go down inside the cave with the help of climbing equipment or by parachute. Near the cave, there is a special area for attaching equipment. Descent into the cave with a parachute takes only about 10-15 seconds. In order not to disrupt the usual life of birds, as well as for the safety of people, descents are allowed strictly from 12 to 16 hours, at which time the birds fly away to feed.

Jumping or going down a cave is one thing, but climbing up an almost vertical wall is quite another. The way up takes a couple of hours on average and requires excellent physical fitness.

It's pretty cool in the cave itself. There is vegetation only near the entrance to it. After heavy rains, streams appear, which cascade into the cave. Inside the cave, in addition to birds, many other animals live: various insects, including scorpions, snakes. So inside you need to be extremely careful.

Smells inside, to put it mildly, not very. The air is filled with smells of decay and mold, so being in a cave for a long time without oxygen equipment or special filters is not only unpleasant, but also dangerous.

At the bottom of the cave there is a thick layer of stones and bird droppings. The bottom is sloped and has many small tunnels and splits leading to lower levels. Now they have not yet been fully studied by scientists.

It is noteworthy that part of the filming of the famous film Sanctum took place here.

The dimensions of the cave are really impressive. For the descent and subsequent ascent to the top, you need good physical (I repeat) and moral preparation. If you doubt your abilities, then you can not go down, but just look in the evening at the huge flocks of birds returning to their nests.