CAVING

On the opposite end of climbing, though using similar techniques, there is speleology. Nature's fantasy is evident in the formation of caverns. Speleologists have great fun in the limestone formations of Bulgarian caves.

Caving is an opportunity to experience a natural environment unlike any other in the surface world. The caves are wild and undeveloped however and may not be what you expect after visiting commercial show caves outside of Bulgaria. You will find they have uneven floors, short step-type drops, water pools, some awkward passages, etc. If you are prepared to approach caves with an open mind and a sense of adventure, you will be rewarded with a once in a lifetime experience.

The geological of our lands is quite complicated. The territory of Bulgaria was eighter covered by huge seas or parts of land that broke above the waters as islands full of queer plants and fabulous fauna. The Rhodopy mountains are a part of the vast Tracian-Macedonic massif that covers the central Balkan peninsula. Homer was called that big mountain system “The snow mountains of the Tracians”, Ovidius connects his name with the legend about the proud love of a tzar and a queen who called themselves Zeus and Hera and the Tunderer punished them by turning them into two mountains – Hemus and Rhodopa. According to another legend the name Rhodopa was given by an Egyptian pharaon in honor of his beloved woman who was born in these lands. The West Rhodopy is characteristic with its high even ridges, deeply jutted valleys and vast teutonic valleys kettles.