Pekel cave

Infobox Cave
name = Pekel cave
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location =Šempeter v Savinjski dolini, Slovenia
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length = 1159 metres
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discovery = 1860
geology = Karst
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Pekel cave is a karst cave, carved in the course of millions of years by the Peklenščica stream. It is located near Šempeter v Savinjski dolini, Slovenia. The cave is also known as Jama Pekel (hell cave), as one of the rocks near the entrance looks like the devil. [http://www.slovenia.info/?naravne_znamenitosti_jame=746]

Description

The cave is 1,159 metres long and has two levels. Through the caverns of the lower part of the cave runs the Peklenščica stream that comes bursting out of a siphon as the highest accessible underground waterfall in Slovenia. [http://www.td-sempeter.si/en/narava/jama-pekel] The upper part of the cave is dry, but full of cave formations.

History

The cave is more than 3 million years old. The findings of Neanderthal bones in the cave prove that the cave was used as a shelter by these early inhabitants of Europe. The cave was opened for public in 1860, when the first wooden footbridges had been set up. From 1972 on, the cave is managed by a local tourist association.

References

Sources

* Kuhar, Ivo, 1974: Kraška jama Pekel. "Savinjski zbornik". 344-350