Spannagel Cave

In Kolkgang

The Spannagelhöhle is a show cave in Hintertux, in the Zillertal Alps in the Austrian state of Tyrol. Currently, about 10 km length of the cave are explored through guided tours are 500 meters accessible to visitors. Your access is below the situated on 2531 meters above sea level Spannagelhaus, a refuge of the Austrian Tourist Club ( ÖTK ). It is named after Dr. Rudolf Spannagelhaus, 1902-1904 President of the Austrian Tourist Club ( ÖTK ).

Formation

The Zillertal Alps consist largely of plutonic and metamorphic rocks, which do not allow the formation of cavities. Verkarstungsfähige rocks such as limestone, dolomite, gypsum and other carbonates have only small thicknesses in general. The Spannagelhöhle originated in Jurassic Hochstegenkalkmarmor, a marble with over 90% Gesamtkarbonatgehalt that runs through the Schieferhülle of the Western Tauern Window. The geological corrosion ( corrosion or mixture ) was the formation of this vast cave is explained by the tectonics of the area.

Special

Overall, the cave is characterized by a strong Ventilation and intensive moisture ( up to waterfalls ). The various mouth holes form in part only by dipping passable siphon. In the tagfernen cave passages there is the rare Excentriques. The Spannagelhaus cave system extends from the glacier Gefrorne Wall Kees to Lärmstange, 2686 m, and (as of 1977 E. Jacoby ) and with over 12.5 kilometers (previously surveyed ) total passage length, the highest large cave in Europe. During a guided tour of the cave content (colored marble, various limestone formations, stalactites, crystals, ribbons and marbles Erosionskolke ) is explained. Furthermore, attention is drawn to the age, origin, cave fauna, cave fauna, cave air and on the beneficial especially for lung patients cave air with their composition. Bats seem to only near the mouth holes - still, some lost up in the entrance area. In the eastern section of this tunnel a cave museum was set up where some finds are exhibited from the mountains inside.

History of exploration

Discovered in 1919 Alois Hotter, the former landlord of the clamping nail house, the cave entrance. He described the cave as " Grayish hole", and used it in the episode, as well as several tenants after him, as a waste pit.

1960 Rudolf Radislovich explored for the first time the front part of the cave with the main course and water gear, both meet in the hall of the Association. The following year, Max H. Fink measured the previously discovered parts of the cave and discovered the maze. 1964 declared the Bundesdenkmalamt the cave because of the scientific importance as a natural monument. 1968 discovered Knezicek Walter and Günther J. Wolf at the right edge of the hall of the Association two shafts and the Knesi harness that flow together in about 10 meters deep in a tunnel, and later this was recognized as the start of the screw - canyons. 1970 was Hannes Jodl at the left end of the hall of the Association the post Kastl, which leads to a further continuation of Spannagelhöhle. A first Befahrung this section succeeded Günther J. Wolf with his seven participants Eiskurses. Researching the Kolkganges (ascending to Elchschädelgang and Dirndl chamber, a connection to the water passage, descending over the Kolkgang to Hannes - Jodl Cathedral, opens at the ceiling of the screw Canyon, on to Dr. Klaus- Karger - hall and in further persecution the Kolkganges to the drip line of the ÖTK - shaft ) meant a doubling of the known parts of the cave and incentive for further research.

The years 1972-1975 brought four survey trips in the country club for caving in Tirol, who advanced to the gneiss Bach. As part of a research week of Groupe Spéléologique Luxembourgeois with E. Jacoby, M. Möller, G. Mutschlechner and B. Schmitz succeeded in 1975 the study of the history of the cave Bach: By water staining could be demonstrated that he south to about 1980 m in the middle of a cliff of Waldeben to days occurs. Similarly, the parallel to the Spannagelhöhle snow spot cave was discovered and measured. 1976 established the National Association of Speleology a bivouac in the reverse Hall. A 50stündige expedition under the direction of E. Jacoby in the year 1976/77 discovered and explored the spinning gear, the Mutschlechner Cathedral and the treasury. 1978 reached Maiberger F. W. Mayr and the westernmost point of the cave, the Bauchbad.

1984 exact measurements German cavers of the Tyrolean State Association under the leadership of C. Cavelius the Südsystems. 1987 and 1988 the entrance of the cave cleared out, and the connecting passage between debris Hall and gneiss Bach by W. Mayr and G. Völkl was discovered and measured. The screw - Cañon was traveled in 1989 by E. Turk and R. Tobitsch first time.