Marble Caves (russian: Мра́морная пещера, uk, Мармурова печера, crh, Mermer qobası, Мермер къобасы) is a

cave A cave or cavern is a natural void in the ground, specifically a space large enough for a human to enter. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. The word ''cave'' can refer to smaller openings such as sea ...

Crimea Crimea, crh, Къырым, Qırım, grc, Κιμμερία / Ταυρική, translit=Kimmería / Taurikḗ ( ) is a peninsula in Ukraine, on the northern coast of the Black Sea, that has been occupied by Russia since 2014. It has a pop ...

, at the lower

plateau In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; ), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. Often one or more sides ...

Chatyr-Dag Chatyr-Dag ( crh, Çatır Dağ, uk, Чатир-Даг, russian: Чатыр-Даг) is a mountainous massif in Crimea, near the Simferopol-Alushta highway. In the Crimean Tatar language ''çatır'' means tent and ''dağ'' means mountain. Overvi ...

, mountainous massif. It is a popular tourist attraction being one of the most visited caves in Europe. Due to its uniqueness, the Marble Cave became famous worldwide. Speleologists consider it among the top five most beautiful caves of the planet, and one of the

Seven Natural Wonders of Ukraine The Seven Wonders of Ukraine ( uk, Сім чудес України ) are the seven historical and cultural monuments of Ukraine, which were chosen in the ''Seven Wonders of Ukraine'' contest held in July, 2007. This was the first public contest ...

. In 1992, it was included in the International Association of equipped caves.

History

In 1987, the

Simferopol Simferopol () is the second-largest city in the Crimean Peninsula. The city, along with the rest of Crimea, is internationally recognised as part of Ukraine, and is considered the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. However, it is ...

speleology Speleology is the scientific study of caves and other karst features, as well as their make-up, structure, physical properties, history, life forms, and the processes by which they form ( speleogenesis) and change over time (speleomorphology) ...

team discovered a cave with a complex system of halls and galleries between Bin Bash-Koba (Thousand Heads) and Suuk-Koba (Cold). The new cave, that lay at the altitude of above sea level, was called Marble (initially, also the name "Afghan" was used), due to the fact it that was formed by

marble Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite. Marble is typically not foliated (layered), although there are exceptions. In geology, the term ''marble'' refers to metamorphose ...

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

. In 1988, the center of speleology tourism Onyx-tour established sightseeing tours, concrete paths were laid, and lighting. The tour goes through the Fairy Tales gallery, Tiger Path, with hundreds of various stalactites, the Reconstruction Room, the largest cave room of the Crimea and one of the largest equipped rooms in Europe with its length of 100 metres and height of 28 metres, the Pink Room, with stone roses covering the top of the room, the Palace Hall, with "Queen" and "King" columns, and the Hope and Balcony Room. A stalactite "forest" leads to the Luster Room. Dozens of precious "

chandeliers A chandelier (; also known as girandole, candelabra lamp, or least commonly suspended lights) is a branched ornamental light fixture designed to be mounted on ceilings or walls. Chandeliers are often ornate, and normally use incandescent li ...

" hang down from the ceiling covered with coralite "flowers", some of them almost reach the floor. Here is the place where the tour ends, yet the cave has four more rooms: Landslide, Channel, Chocolate, and Geliktite. File:Marmurova pechera1.jpg File:Шапка Мономаха (натік).JPG File:Мраморная пещера. Август. 2017. 07.jpg File:Мраморная пещера - panoramio (3).jpg

References

External links

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Pictures of the Marble Caves with route description
{{Authority control Landforms of Crimea Tourist attractions in Crimea Show caves Caves of Russia

History

See also

References

External links