Caving Possible in Romania

CAVING APUSENI MOUNTAINS.


The Apuseni Mountains are situated in the west part of Romania, being a part of the west Carpathians. These mountains are made from a mixture of rocks: volcanic and limestone being the most important. The limestone rock has lead to the creation of a vast network of many caves, underground rivers, holes, tunnels, and gorges. Some of the caves have glaciers with the ice over 3 000 years old.

The brand new Caving Apuseni program leads you into this fabulous world of the underground, giving you the opportunity to see the most dramatic places:
Focul Viu and Scarisoara are two small caves that shelter two glaciers. The glacier from Scarisoara is the largest in Romania but Focul Viu glacier is the most spectacular. Through a hole into the ceiling the sun is sending its rays that made the upper part of the glacier melt and rise as water particles that gave the impression of a leaving fire. By night it becomes ice again.

Cetatile Ponorului and Lumea Pierduta are two spectacular places to go. “Cetatile Ponorului” (Ponor strongholds) is a large system of caves, underground rivers, holes, limestone walls and scree. Lumea Pierduta is a large system on holes, small caves and tunnels; all this can be seen from above.

Galbena gorges are the most dramatic in Apuseni Mountains. This part starts from an important spring that allows the water to exit the rock only after an inside basin is full. Downstream the path becomes very narrow and at one point you have either to climb the walls or get wet.

The trip puts you in contact with the traditional way of living in this area; which is somewhat antiquated for the people in the remote villages in the Carpathian Mountains.