Belianska Cave
The inside of the cave
The Belianska Cave ( German Belianska cave ) is a show cave in northern Slovakia. The cave is 1752 m long and was made available to the public at the end of the 19th century. The Belianska Cave is a national natural monument of the Slovak Republic.
Location
The Belianska Cave is located on the northern slope of the mountain Kobylí vrch in the eastern part of the Belianske ( Belianske Tatry ). Administratively, it is located in the town of Vysoke Tatry ( district Tatranská Kotlina ), in Okres Poprad, Prešov kraj in Slovakia, near the Polish border. Due to its central location and proximity to the High Tatras is a popular day trip destination from both the Slovak and from the Polish side. The entrance of the cave is 890 meters N.M.; it is reached by a 15-minute walk from the numerous parking spaces.
Formation and discovery
Unlike some other cave in Slovakia, such as Domica Cave was Belianska Cave not formed by underground rivers, but by snow and ice as well as heavy rainfall. Through the lime-rich environment, the water seeped through geological fault lines and along tectonic faults, these hollowed out further and further, thus shaping a 1752 m long cave system with a gradient of 160 m. Already in the first half of the 18th century was the front part of the cave known gold diggers; but the real research began only in the second half of the 19th century. 1881 entered Husz J. and J. Britz for the first time the cave and opened it in the following years. Since 1896, the cave is electrically lighted and accessible in certain dimensions of the public. Currently 1135 m of the cave system are developed.
Attractions and characteristics
Interesting to visit are small underground lakes, pagoda-like stalagmites and flowstone waterfalls. Furthermore, the abundance of domes and halls is worth mentioning. Unique in Slovakia are in Hudobná Sien ( " music hall " ), held concerts.
Location
The parking lots to the cave are clearly displayed on the main road 67 between Ždiar and Spisská Bela. The cave is open all year except for the period between 16 November and 30 November. The tour is 1,275 meters long and takes about 70 minutes.