Lamprechtsofen

The Lamprechtsofen is a known for centuries cave in the Leogang Stone Mountains in the province of Salzburg. ( Oven is a name for a narrow rock formation. ) The entrance is just off the main road between Lofer and Saalfelden. The cave has been explored to 51 km in length and is the longest cave in Salzburg. 700 meters are developed for tourism as a show cave; for experienced lasting several hours and guided tours off the show cave operation are offered.

The cave system stretches more than 1600 meters of altitude, the largest parts can be committed only in winter in frost, as many transitions can be completely at higher rainfall or snow melt under water.

History and Research

For centuries the Lamprechtsofen was the target of treasure hunters who suspected a hidden treasure of the Knight Lamprecht there. That some of this lost their lives, show earlier skeletal remains in the entrance ways and halls nearby. The treasure hunt was even an occasion to inform the archbishop's authority. The dean of Saalfelden, Jacob Zäller, in 1722 even instructed: "You have the secular Obrigkheit to ersuechen that will completely walled in so-called Lamprecht oven Lofer court with nechsten the Speluncen. " This was 1723. Treasure hunters nevertheless always managed to get through. 1833 made ​​Forester v. Ferchl a cave inspection. To make it easier to find the way back, he laid out a cord and made the first sketch. With the cave Anton von Posselt Czorich (1854 - 1911) began in 1878, the systematic exploration of the Lamprechtsofen hole.

Beginning of the 20th century, the Lamprechtsofen was first systematically explored and surveyed by members of the National Association for caving in Salzburg. 700 meters of the cave were the German and Austrian Alpine Association for the public will be made ​​available through the section of Passau. A sensation in 1905 opened cave was electric lighting. The Lofer Mayor John Stainer († 1937) encouraged the further exploration that Stainerhalle is named after him.

For many years, then formed the Bocksee, a siphon, the end of the walk area. In 1962 it succeeded in divers of the Salzburg cave club to overcome this obstacle. In order to enable further exploration of the cave, the ceiling of the first Bockseesiphons was blown off. However, since the intervention changed the cave air, the siphon was installed later and bypassed with a short, closed tunnels.

In numerous expeditions, many new parts of the cave were discovered during the following decades, explored and measured. This proved to be more technically demanding, since the input of Lamprecht furnace is almost the deepest point of the cave and from there, mostly uphill. Numerous wall levels, Schlufe and shafts must be conquered from below, for the crossing of some lakes and rivers Inflatables and for overcoming siphon diving equipment are necessary.

After had risen inside already over 1000 meters, the Lamprechtsofen was considered highest cave in the world. The end points could only be achieved by multi-day tours, which further investigations made ​​difficult in particular because of the laborious material transport. It was therefore decided to seek from the plateau of the Leogang Stone Mountains off after a second input. In the 1990s, primarily research groups from Poland tried in multi-week expeditions to find such access; 1998, a second output could be found on Ebersbergkar the Leogang Stone Mountains in 2296 m above sea level. The Lamprechtsofen was with more than 1600 m height difference now for a few years and deepest cave on earth. The climb-through from above takes several days and is difficult and dangerous despite built ropes. The research is not yet complete.

The Lamprechtsofen is currently known as the longest cave in Salzburg and he is one of the most difficult caves around the world. The diversity of lakes, waterfalls and gorges, the cave system is considered in the art to be extremely attractive.