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History
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| 2002 |
opened to the public. |
Description
Antro del Corchia is the youngest Italian show cave, opened in 2002. It is named after Mount Corchia, where it is located, This cave is Italys largest cave system, about 60km long. The mountains in this southern part of the Apuan Alps rise from the sea to about 1,200m and are composed of limestones, or better mostly of marble. The marble of this area is world famous, as Carrara is only a few kilometers away.
The development of the cave as a show cave was a byproduct of the attempt to protect the cave during exploration. The problem was, that fragile parts of the cave system had to be crossed, which were in great danger of being destroyed. A possible solution is a carefull development of the endangered passages, which allows cavers to cross them with less damages.
The cave is entered through an artificial tunnel which starts in an old marble quarry. Three airtight door form a sort of air lock and are intended to keep the atmosphere inside the cave unchanged. This a sort of general scheme in Italy, all caves do it, but it is anyway a good idea for big caves like this one. Because of the size of the cave a convection stream of cave air would start and influence the temperature and humidity in many parts of the cave.
The cave shows only few speleothems in the first part. Tunnel like passages seem to be a continuation of the artificial entrance tunnel. The path ascends 20m, then descends 37m, finally reaches an impressive gorge which is between 1.50 and 3m wide, but 30m high. Many cave walls show scallops, a sort of erosional structure formed by the flowing water which once ran through this passages. Geologists are even able to tell the direction of the water from the asymmetric form of the scallops.
The speleothems start in the Galleria del Venerdì (Friday Gallery). Here are some rather exceptional flowstones like the Capanna Trogloditica (Hut of the Cave Dwellers). But now a small cave river accompanies the pathe until it drops into Pozzo della Cascata (Waterfall Shaft), which is the connection to the deepest branch of the cave. The lowest point at the end of this branch is only 450m asl., which is about 400m deeper.
The final hall is a wealth of speleothems, in different forms and colours. The tour makes a loop through the Galleria delle Stalattiti (Stalactites Gallery) and the Foresta pietrificata (Fossilized Forest). This extraordinary place is the end and highlight of the tour. However, at the end of the loop the visitor has to go back the path he came. |
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Grotta del Vento
Situated in the centre of the Apuan Alps' Natural Park, this is one of the most complete European caves, presenting an extraordinary variety of phenomena which are outlined with competence and precision by expert speleological guides.
Following illuminated and easy-going trails, we can admire the many wonders of the underground world: from shining stalactites and stalagmites to polychrome flowstone, alabaster draperies, crystal-brimmed lakes, underground water-courses and bizarre forms of erosion.
There are three itineraries: the "first" (one hour) proceeds horizontally and is characterized throughout by splendid calcareous formations; the "second" (two hours), which also includes the first, visits a small underground river and its charmingly vast environment; the "third" (three hours) consents a complete visit of the cave and easily follows several perfectly vertical tracts.
The Wind Cave is open to the public every day of the year (excluding Christmas).
From April 1st to November 1st and on Sundays and public holidays of the remaining period, the times are as follows:
1st itinerary (one hour): 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
2nd itinerary (two hours): 11, 15, 16, 17
3rd itinerary (three hours, complete tour): 10, 14
On weekdays between November 2nd and March 31st only the 1st itinerary can be visited at the following times: 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.
Internal cave temperature is of +10.7°C. (53°F.)
Bar facilities can be found next to the ticket office, as well as a large selection of minerals, fossils etc.
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