Descent of Krubera-Voronja, the Deepest Cave in the World. International Expedition to Explore and Extend the Deepest Cave on Earth

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1 TOWARDS t h e C e n t r e o f t h e E a r t h To reach bottom of deepest cave in world, international team must dive several siphons. More about project see on page 3 Descent of Krubera-Voronja, Deepest Cave in World International Expedition to Explore and Extend Deepest Cave on Earth Most of lands and oceans on earth have been explored and charted. There are few places left to discover in 21st Century. However, underground world conceals plenty of potential geographic discoveries still unrevealed caves and caverns. Spelaeology ( caving ) is a science that explores caves and related phenomena. In summer 2009, Lithuanian caving club Aenigma is organizing an international expedition to deepest cave in world. At -2,191 metres, Krubera-Voronya cave, sometimes called Everest or Bottom of World, is only cave on Earth deeper than 2 km. The expedition Towards Centre of Earth draws toger expert cavers from Lithuania, Spain, Ireland, Ukraine, Hungary and United Kingdom. The main objectives are to descend to bottom of cave and to push current limits of exploration. The team will also install measurement devices to record water level fluctuations in lower parts of cave. secret that joins us toger. Spelaeology explores depths of Earth. More about Spelaeology see on page 2 More about project see on page 3

2 Images of caves and karst Karst landscape riddled with sinkholes ABOUT SPELAEOLOGY The beauty of caves is difficult to describe. Water is main factor in forming of caves and ir formations. Spelaeology (Greek Spelaion : cave + Logos : study/science) is a science that only in its contribution to or branches of science, and cave studies were considered explores caves and or underground part of larger disciplines of geog- cavities, and everything related to m. Caves are usually formed by water dissolving raphy, geology or archaeology. Only few cave-specific studies were undertaken prior soluble bedrock, in a process called to work of Édouard-Alfred Martel karstification. ( ), 'Far Karst topography of modern spe- is a landscape shaped l a e o l o g y ', w h o this process usually carbonate rock such a s l i m e s t o n e o r dolomite. The karstification of a landscape may result in a variety of large or small scale features both on surface and beneath. The term karst is S P E L A E O L O G Y is a science that explores underground cavities and related phenomena. In or words underground geography. through his extensive and well-publicized cave explorations introduced concept of spelaeology as a distinct area of study. In 1895 Martel founded Société de Spéléologie, first organization devoted to cave science derived from German name for Kras, a in world. The growth of spelaeology is region of Dinar Mountains in Slovenia directly linked with caving, both because of stimulation of public interest partially extending into Italy where it is called Carso and where first scientific and awareness, and fact that most research of a karst topography was made. speleological fieldwork has been conducted Prior to mid-nineteenth century, by cavers. scientific value of caves was considered Cave pearls are rare and delicate formations that only few have seen. Photoes from National Geographic The grandeur of a glacial cave. 2

3 Above abyss. The moments from club s life A BO UT TH E PR O JECT Nowadays, when highest mountains and deepest The team will split into groups, in order discovered and explored, re is only one to relay equipment and supplies gradually place on Earth left where geographic deeper into cave. The groups will: are still have cave entrance lies on this plateau. been discoveries oceans possible: underground world. Cave exploration is set up a series of underground s; descend difficult and dangerous because all work must be done in a dark, wet and cold strength, bottom (approx. -2,150 metres); rock anchors); psychological install digital water level loggers, to equipment. measure fluctuations of water Spelaeology is one of most dangerous level in cave and thus enhance preparation and good special fields of science and extreme sports. safety of future expeditions; The expedition Towards Centre of take specimens of cave insects for Earth is organised by Lithuanian club Aenigma, and unites approximately 20 highly experienced cavers from in cave system of Arañonera. replace worn out equipment (ropes, environment. This activity demands great physical to Spain, Pyrenees. Rigging cave identification & habitat study; extend 6 different countries. Krubera-Voronya. current limits of exploration and map new discoveries; taken photographs and video footage The aim of expedition is to reach bottom of deepest cave on Earth of exploration. During expedition team will adhere to strict ecological requirements The team will travel to region of and will strive to do minimal harm to Abhkhazia, close to Black Sea and cave s ecosystem: y will use only electric border between Russia and Georgia. From lightning systems, and will carry out here, y will climb into mountains waste and establish a base on Arabika previous expeditions. from ir own and also Abkhazia, West Caucasus. Exploration of cave system of V. Ilyukhina. from plateau, at a height of +2,250 metres. The Lithuania, karstic region of BirzaiPasvalys. In Cow s Hole. In depths of Earth. Pictures from speleo.lt 3

4 Views from Voronya cave Eiffel tower, height 324m The impressive first pit of Krubera- Voronya Krubera-Voronya cave West Caucasus, Arabica ragion Topographical map of cave Prepared by Ukrainian Speleological Association, data from year The at depth of m gives a shelter from cold and water. At -1500m, flooding is an ever-present danger. Target of Towards centre of Earth expedition Pictures from National Geographic 4

5 The sun is a rare guest on massif of Arabika The impressions of 2008 expedition EXPEDITIO N BUDG ET Preparation for expedition: Preparatory activities in 2008 Budget, EUR Preparatory activities in 2009 Budget, EUR The courses of diving, Vilnius Preparatory expedition, Caucasus Reconnaissance expedition, Abkhazia Courses on cave rescue, Ukraine Caving school Refinement of diving skills, Russia Total in Total in Yuriy Kasyan, leader of expedition, is descending to Voronya cave. The budget of preparation for expedition: 27,500 EUR Estimated budget of expedition Towards Centre of Earth : Subject Comments Budget, EUR 1. Travel cost 19 persons, 1,000 EUR per person Water level gauges 6 items, 500 EUR per item Caving equipment: ropes, carabiners, bags etc. 1 km of rope, 300 carabiners etc Diving equipment 3 sets, 2,000 EUR per set Photo and video equipment Protection for equipment Communication expenses Data transfer Or costs Total N.B. The budget of expedition does not include preparation costs. Start of expedition: First week of August 2009; End of expedition: First week of September 2009; Duration: 4 weeks The main sponsors: - General sponsor of expedition: 10,000 EUR; - Sponsors of expedition: from 2,000 to 3,000 EUR; - Informational promoters (mass media); The logos of main sponsors will be placed on expedition equipment. Also main sponsors will be mentioned and ir logos will be shown during advertising aign of expedition in mass media. Or sponsors: We will be glad to receive support of all kinds: financial, equipment, services. The logos of all sponsors will be placed on websites (Lithuanian, Russian, English profiles) and (Lithuanian). The studying of cave map in underground of -700 m. The descent to chamber of Soviet Speleologists at m. The 100 metres-long crawlway at depth of m called Way to dream Pictures from speleo.lt and National Geographic 5

6 The impressions of 2008 expedition Arabika massif, West Caucasus The entrance to deepest cave is located at 2256 m. above sea level It is physically demanding to ascend 2000 metres. ABOUT THE REGION The West Caucasus may be called caver s paradise. In region re are 4 caves deeper than 1.5 kilometres. These caves are Krubera-Voronya cave (-2191 m), cave system of Ilyuziya-Mezhonogo-Snezhnaya (-1753 m), cave Sarma (-1543 m) and cave of V. Pantyukhin (-1508 m). All se caves are within top ten deepest caves in world. ABOUT VORONYA CAVE The cave Krubera-Voronya (Rus: Крубера- Воронья) at this moment is deepest cave in world. Its depth is 2191 (±9) metres. It is only cave in world deeper than 2 kilometres. The entrance to cave is 2256 metres above sea level. The cave is located in mountains of West Caucasus, Gagra range (Abkhazia), Arabika massif. The cave belongs to cave system of Arabika. The coordinates of cave are N, E. Until 1983 Voronya was known by name of Sibirskaya. In beginning of 80's cave was explored to depth of 340 metres and was forgotten for almost three decades. In 1999 intensive explorations were restarted after Ukrainian expedition found a new passage on depth of 230 metres and reached depth of 700 metres. History of exploration 2000 August: Team of Ukrainian cavers explored cave down to m September: Ukrainian Speleogical Associa-tion (UkrSA) and MTDE teams continued exploration down to m January: UkrSA and Cavex teams discovered two new passages that led to -1710m August: Cavex and Kiev Club team dived sump at m (also known as Sump 1), discovered new passages and reached depth of m July: Cavex team continued explorations in new passage until y encountered a new sump at m August: UkrSA team discovered a side passage at metres that led to anor sump at m October: UkrSA team continued explo-rations down to metres. For first time in history of speleology this team crossed metre limit July: Cavex team dived sump at depth of m and explored 160 metres down past sump. This led to a depth of metres. During this exploration 3 sumps were passed below metres September: A member of UkrSA and an experienced diver Genadiy Samokhin dived 50 metres into Two Captains sump and reached m, which is current world depth record. Ukrainian diver Genadly Samokhin emerges from a siphon in Voronya. Pictures from speleo.lt and National Geographic We invite you to become our sponsor! Your input to project will help team to descend deepest cave in world and furr research and exploration of unique underground world. Please contact us if you would like to learn more. ÆNIGMa C A V I N G C L U B Organizer: Caving club Aenigma info@speleo.lt URL: Poject is supported by European Speleaological Federation (FSE) 6