Price: Ecopath " Dark Hole " leads to the Cave with the same name, located in scenic limestone cliffs of Lakatnishki . The route is cultivated, with railings on the most dangerous places . Located about 50 kilometers from the capital, which makes it very popular. Cave even nicknamed "The School of Sofia cavers " because it is one of the most popular places for novice cavers .
Its entrance is located 27 meters above the bed of the Iskar and offers incredible views of the river gorge . Her research began in the early twentieth century. At the beginning of the study subject is mostly the rich bat fauna of Dark Hole .
Mapping of the cave began in 1926 , as already described underground passages with a total length of more than one kilometer . We are actively working on the development of computer vectorized map Speleological structure. Curiously, the total length of the Dark Hole is not yet specified, but it is supposed to be about 5600 meters , which ranks fourth in the country on this indicator.
The cave is a system of two large and many smaller galleries. The entire structure is located on the 4 " floor ," of which the most understudied the first. At the bottom of the Dark Hole runs fairly deep river leading back to the source Zhitolyub . It limestone rich waters of the river are the main " culprit" cavern is so rich in a variety of rock formations, non-draining lakes, rapids and small waterfalls .
Dark Hole fauna is extremely rich . Apart from the already mentioned bats , it is inhabited by 17 troglobionts (devoid of vision and pigmentation organisms living in the cave structures ) . The underground river flows through the largest gallery of the cave. It was due to her wealth and diversity of the wildlife in the Dark Hole . In 1962 the cave was declared a natural landmark.
While it is attractive mainly for cavers , Dark Hole is an attractive place for lovers of tourism without specialized knowledge. The vicinity of the cave is very beautiful and picturesque . Lakatnishki rocks are among the most spectacular natural phenomena , not only in the Iskar Gorge , and in Bulgaria. Eco-trail leading to the cave is not suitable for groups with children or inexperienced tourists , especially during the colder months of the year.
- Ecopath
