Some success had been had in the area of the Obir massive, but the cost of excavation and the difficulties of transportation of the ore into the valley made the effort hardly worth while.
During the search the miners came deeper and deeper into the mountain when they were suddenly presented with a number of natural caves connected by narrow tunnels.
In the caves a panorama of stalactites and stalagmites gleaming a ghostly white in the light of their carbide lamps.
It took until 1903 when the first feeble attempts were made to make this natural phenomenon into a tourist attraction. Getting there, however, was no easy matter until 1990 when a road was built up the mountain and further tunnels and caves were made accessible to the public.
I was there yesterday and had brought my cameras along.
The tour takes you for 1.3 km through caves
and connecting corridors,
If my memory serves me correctly,
our guide mentioned some 690 steps
in a number of segments.
Stalagmites and Stalactites grow at a rate of about 1 ccm in 300 years.
I couldn't wait that long. Had to return home.
an overhead shot of a tunnel connecting two caves.
a constant temperature of 8 C
makes some warmer clothing advisable.
Reaching a hight of 4 meters, this stalagmite is an impressive sight.
another set of steps leading to the narrow opening
into the next cave.
How does all of this happen ?
Water, seeping through the rock, collects Calcium
and, having reached a hollow space (cave) sheds the Calcium
producing these astonishing pictures.
Stalactites ( hanging from the ceiling )
Stalagmites ( growing from the ground up )
all it takes is "TIME"
Millions of years !
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