The unique decoration of the newly discovered parts of the Gombasecká Cave (source: Mikuláš Repaszký, Hegedüs András)
Members of the caving group Speleo Rožňava, led by Tomáš and Ľuboš Suchý, have made history in Slovak speology.
They man an exceptional discovery in the unexplored areas of Gombasecká Cave, which is situated in the Rožňava Region, eastern Slovakia, during the second half of June this year.
If the rediscovered cave spaces will be available for the public, cavers promise that visitors will have a beautiful experience.
Circumstances of the discovery looked like scenes from an adventure film, according to Ján Ambrúž, cave manager, and Bartolomej Šturmann, chairman of the Speleo Rožňava.
After the detection of the Gombasecká cave at the beginning of 20th century, old cavers knew that there was a high possibility of more caving areas because of its connection with the cave system of the abyss of Silická Ľadnica Cave, Ambrúž told to the Gemer.korzar.sme website.
“Cavers, who were looking for the connection with the Silická Ľadnica Cave, whether they went out of the Gombasecká Cave against the flow of the brook in the direction of Silická Ľadnica or vice versa from the abyss in the direction of the cave, always reached a point where it wasn't possible to go further as there was an impassable fissure where, although there was less water than in other places, it was still insurmountable for a man,” Ambrúž explained for Gemer.korzar.sme.
Based on the unsuccessful research of the past, the cavers tried a new path where they found an old 25-meter-long hall. Motivated by Šturmann, a leader of the group, Tomáš and Ľuboš Suchý then climbed up a hole of about 20 meters.
“This climb was very difficult as walls are unstable in this part [of the cave],” Šturmann told Gemer.korzar.sme, adding that sometimes it seemed that they wouldn’t ever come through and that it was one of the most difficult ascents he’s ever done.
After overcoming the 20-meter-high crack, they finally got into the cave, according to Šturmann.
Other members of Speleo Rožňava were also part of the great finding - Mikuláš Repaszký, Jozef Heteši, Miroslav Šichula, Róbert Krúzs, Ladislav Juhász jr. and Bartolomej Šturmann, as well as András Hegedus and speleologist Katka Csondor from Hungary.
The decoration of the newly discovered parts of the Gombasecká Cave is unique thanks to formations called “hektility” which are rare both in Slovakia and abroad.
