Mramorniyi Pesheri (Marble Caves), Crimea

Marble Caves (Russian: Мра́морная пещера, Ukrainian: Мармурова печера, Crimean Tatar: Mermer qobası, Мермер къобасы) is a cave in Crimea, located at the lower plateau of Chatyr-Dag, mountainous massif, is a popular tourist attraction site.

In 1987 Simferopol speleology team have discovered a unique huge cave with a complex system of halls and galleries, not far from other caves, Bin Bash-Koba (Thousand Heads) and Suuk-Koba (Cold).^[1] New cave, that lied at the altitude of 920 meters above the sea level, was called Marble (initially also the name "Afghan" was used), due to the fact it was formed by marble limestone.^[2] In 1988 center of speleology tourism Onyx-tour established sightseeing tours, concrete paths were laid, cave was as well equipped with lighting. Tour goes through Fairy Tales gallery, Tiger Path with hundreds of various stalactites, Reconstruction Room, that is the largest cave room of the Crimea and one of the largest equipped rooms in Europe with its length of 100 meters and height of 28 meters; Pink Room with stone roses covering the top of the room, Palace Hall with "Queen" and "King" columns, Hope Room and and Balcony Room; a stalactite "forest" leads to the Luster Room. Dozens of precious "chandeliers" hang down from the ceiling by covered with corralite "flowers", some of them almost reach the floor. Here is the place where the speleotur ends, yet the cave has 4 more rooms: Landslide, Channel, Chocolate, and Geliktite. Due to its uniqueness Marble Cave became famous worldwide. Speleologists consider it among the top five most beautiful caves of the planet. It was included into 7 Natural Wonders of Ukraine ^[3]. It is one of the most visited caves in Europe, and in 1992 it was included into the International Association of equipped caves.

References

1. ^ http://onixtour.com.ua/main/marble.htm
2. ^ http://onixtour.com.ua/main/marble.htm
3. ^ http://7chudes.in.ua/content/marmurova-pechera-ar-krim-0

See also

• Crimea
• Seven Natural Wonders of Ukraine
• Chatyr-Dag

External links

• Pictures of the Marble Caves with route description (Russian)