Punkevni Caves

The Punkva Caves can be found in Pusty Zleb, about 1 km from the Skalni mlyn information centre. The caves were discovered in stages in the years 1909–1933 by Professor Absolon’s group of speleologists. The visitors walk through mighty underground spaces and corridors decorated with stalactites and stalagmites as far as the bottom of the world-famous Macocha (=Step Mother) abyss. The abyss is 138,7 m deep, with fascinating ground dimensions: 174 by 76 m. The foot walk is followed by a motor boat ride along the Punkva underground river. The ride includes the visit to the Masaryk Cave, one of the most beautiful caves of the Moravian Karst. The Punkva Caves are an extension of the longest cave system in the Czech Republic, the Amateur Cave, whose corridors are over 30 km long.

The guided cave tour lasts about 60 minutes and covers 720 m of passageway (including number of stairs) and water cruise (450 m). Bring a light jacket, as the cave temperature is about 8,7 °C (47 °F). Please be sure to make reservation in advance because tickets are often sold out.

GPS : 49°22'14.54"N, 16°43'32.47"E

GPS: Parking Skalni mlyn: 49°21'48.201"N, 16°42'31.636"E - open I. - XII.

GPS: Parking Macocha: 49°22'17.489"N, 16°43'50.288"E - open IV. - XI.

A Summary on the Punkva Caves

1723 - First historically documented descent to the bottom of the Macocha Abyss: Lazarus Schopper.

1909 - Discovery of the "dry" section of the Punkva Caves: a team of workers led by Karel Absolon; and members of the Jeskynni klub pri Prirodovecke sekci Moravskeho muzea (a caving club associated with the Natural Sciences Section of the Moravian Museum).

1910 - Parts of the "dry" section are open to the public.

1914 - The "dry" section of the Punkva Caves is connected with the bottom of the Macocha Abyss.

1920 - The first 120 m of the underground course of the Punkva River are discovered from the Velky vytok (Great Outlet) spring, followed by the discovery of the Masaryk Dome. 1921 - Public navigation (boat rides) commence from the Great Outlet to the Masaryk Dome.

1933 - The Zly or Hluboky sifon (Deep Siphon) is pumped out in an unprecedented pumping experiment. More of the underground course of the Punkva River is discovered. The navigation is extended to the bottom of the Macocha Abyss. The whole complex of the Punkva Caves is open to the public to the present-day extent.

1948 - The technical equipment is updated and the administrative building reconstructed.

1996 - A general reconstruction of the caves is carried out using present-day concepts, technologies and materials.

Depth of the Macocha Abyss: 138,7 m

Depth of the Lower Lake at the Macocha bottom: 50 m

Number of visitors in 2007: 226 641

Photos

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Map of cave