On Nature in the Czech Republic

Nature Conservation 2/2011 11. 7. 2011 On Nature in the Czech Republic Print article in pdf

The Pluto’s Temple – The Second Longest Non-karst Cave in the Czech Republic

druhá nejdelší nekrasová jeskyně v České republice

authors: Roman Mlejnek, Vratislav Ouhrabka

The Pluto’s Temple – The Second Longest Non-karst Cave in the Czech Republic

In 2006, the Pluto Temple cave system was discovered in the Teplice Rocks (the Broumov Highlands, the Adrspach-Teplice Rocks National Nature Reserve, northeastern Bohemia). The system consists of mostly underground space in block broken rocks on the edge of two gorges. Broken caves are located particularly along underground water course stretches of the gorges.

These are namely the Pluto’s Temple including a supply cave under a rock ledge and Západní ponor/Western Dipping and Severní ponor/Northern Dipping Caves. The total length of the cave reaches 727 m, the cave system’s denivelation being 25.5 m. In addition, 24 root stalagmites and 3 root stalagnates were also found in the cave system. The Pluto’s Temple, also known as the Východní ponor/Eastern Dipping Cave reaches 547 m in length. Therefore, it is the second longest non-karst cave in the Czech Republic.