Grotta Gigante EarthCache
DieReisenden: There is nothing more to say.Thanks to all the visitors - nobody had any problem with the description... So far.
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Easy to reach,the header cords are near a parking place.
Grotta Gigante (Brišckova jama) or Grotta di Brisciachi, is a giant cave on the Italian side of the Trieste Karst, in the municipality of Sgonico. Since 1995 the cave is in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's largest tourist cave.
Grotta gigante is a typical carst cavern. The word ”karst” refers to a type of terrain, usually formed on carbonate rock (limestone and dolomite) where groundwater has solutionally- enlarged openings to form a subsurface drainage system. A mild carbonic acid produced from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, particularly the soil atmosphere, is primarily responsible for the solvent power of groundwater on carbonate rocks.
The condition for the emergence of caves are water and limestone. The caves develop by intrusion of surface water in fine columns and cracks in the limestone. When the water goes through the humus layers the seeping water takes up carbon dioxide and thereby a weak carbonic acid develops. This enriched water dissolves the limestone and so, very slowly,the cracks and columns get larger and lager.
The enormous hall is 107 meters high, 130 meters long and 65 meters large. A comfortable and steep path and a suggestive electric lighting allows a pleasant visit of about 45 minutes. The tourist can have a look at the wonderful and charming underground world represented by the caves and at the rich calcite concretions, the highest of which is no less than 12 metres high. This is all that remains of an ancient river networks that dried up some millions of years ago.
The exceptional characteristics and the constant temperatures in the Giant cave during the whole year have suggested to place two geodetic pendula, 100 meters high approximately (the longest in the world) and some further scientific instruments.
The cave was first explored by Antonio Federico Lindner in 1840. In those days the Karst behind Trieste was being searched for the underground water of the river Timavo so as to be able to plan the city's aqueduct. In 1897 it was fully mapped by Andrea Perko, in 1905 properly equipped for guided tours and in 1908, inaugurated. After World War I, in the 1920s ownership went to the Commissione Grotte Eugenio Boegan della Societa Alpina delle Giulie (Club Alpino Italiano).
To visit the cave you have to pay entrance! Adults €9, Kid´s from 6 to 16 €7, under 6 year is free.
To log this cache you have to send me the answer of the following questions and take a picture of you and your GPS at the header coords (the entrance) and load it into your log. Email me the answers,please do not post them with your log!
Please wait for the log permission - THANKS ! Logs without picture will be deleted!
A: How many steps leed to ground oft the cave?
B: What is the scientifical background for the pendulums?
C: What is the estimated age from the cave?
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