Gourgouthakas

Gourgouthakas

Gourgouthakas

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Gourgouthakas (Greek: Γουργούθακας; from "small cutting on rocks, in which rain water is collected and from which animals drink water") is a cave located in the Lefka Ori mountains on the Greek island of Crete. It is the deepest cave in Greece, with an explored depth of 1,208 metres (3,963 ft),[2] and is the 43rd deepest in the world in 2010.[3]

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Gourgouthakas was discovered in 1990 by the Speleological Mission of the Catamaran team, based in Μontbeliard, France.[4] The depth of 985 m was reached in 1997. [5] In 1998, the same group reached the small lake (sump) at the bottom, at a depth of 1,208 metres (3,963 ft).[6] The lake has not yet been explored.

The cave is primarily a deep vertical shaft, filled with intersecting arcades and huge stalagmites and stalactites.[4] Due to its configuration, specialized equipment and expertise is required to explore it.[6]

See also

List of caves in Greece

References

  1. [1]
    "Levka 2008" (PDF) (in French). p. 50. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  2. [2]
    "Levka Ori 1998" (PDF) (in French). Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  3. [3]
    Gulden, Bob (21 September 2010). "Worlds deepest caves". National Speleological Society GEO2 Committee on long and deep caves. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  4. [4]
    "Gourgouthakas, the underground giant". cretazine. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  5. [5]
    "Levka Ori 1997" (PDF) (in French). Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  6. [6]
    "Cave Gourgouthakas". Terrabook. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
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