gypsum cave
)
| Location: | 6km east north east of Sion on the Sion-Sierre road. |
| Open: | 15-MAR to MAI daily 9-17. JUN to SEP daily 9-17:30. OCT to 01-NOV daily 9-17. [2006] |
| Fee: | Adult SFR 10, Children (5-16) SFR 5. Groups (12+): Adults SFR 9. Plus tip for the boatman. [2006] |
| Classification: |
gypsum cave
|
| Light: | electric |
| Dimension: | L=300m (cave), L=260m (lake), W=15m, A=509m asl., T=15°C (air), 11°C (water), V=100,000/a. |
| Guided tours: |
D=40min, completely by boat.
(
)
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| Bibliography: |
André-H Grobert (1987):
The subterranean lake of Saint-Léonard (Valais-Swiss),
12 pp, 2 colour photos, survey, SB. |
| Address: |
Lac Souterrain, Jean-Marc Bürgi, Case postale 75, 1958 St-Léonard, Tel: +41-27-2032266, Fax: +41-27-2032266.
E-mail: |
| Last update: | $Date: 2007/08/09 07:51:18 $ |
| APR-1943 | first explored by members of the Société Suisse de Spéléologie. | |
| 1946 | an earthquake creates fractures in the rock which results in loss of water. | |
| 1949 | developed and opened to the public. | |
| 1950 | the cave is consecrated to the Notre-Dame des Gouffres by a local priest. A sculpture is placed on the shore of the lake. | |
| 2000 | cave closed for renovation. | |
| 16-JUN-2003 | reopening. |
|
At St. Léonard, on the main road between Sion and Sierre, on the right bank of the Rhône, 5km from the capital of the Canton of Valais, is the largest underground lake in Europe. The cave is formed in gypsum, about 260m in length and 15m wide. The cave was discovered in 1943 and commercialised in 1949. Here, close to the entrance of the lake, visitors can enjoy a moment of agreeable relaxation with a large car park and a refreshment room set in a pleasant, quiet and cool garden. A boat trip on the wonderful clear water of the lake gives one an opportunity to admire the rich, harmonious and varied subterranean geology. Text by Tony Oldham (JUN-2001). With kind permission. |
The cavern with its lake was known for a very long time, at least the entrance and the shore of the lake. But the locals did not enter the cave, and foreigners did not visit this secluded spot. So the first exploration, with the discovery of the huge lake, happend in 1943.
In the centuries before the cave was explored, several legends about the cave developed. One tells about a young man who was trapping around the cave entrance. He discovered leaves of stone in the cave entrance and picked one up. To his surprise a heavy wind arose out of the cave, across the lake. When the wind calmed down again, the leaf had become two golden coins. But whenever other people tried to do the same, it never happened again.
Another legend tells that young maids, visiting the lake at midnight of December, 24st, will see the reflection of their future husband in the dark waters of the lake.
The cave is located in a layer of anhydrite (gypsum) which can be found along the Rhone valley around St-Léonard. It reaches the surface for three kilometers, between St-Léonard and Granges. It was quarried sometimes, but this is not profitable, as the gypsum is very impure.
The anhydrite was originaly deposited in an aride climate during the Eocene (58-37 Ma ago) in a cove of the Tethys sea. During the formation of the Alps, the layers of sediments were moved and displaced in so called nappes. The anhydrite of St-Léonard belongs to the Pennine nappe. After its dislocation it is now tilted by 90° and stands upright, enclosed by schist to the north and slightly metamorphic limestone to the south. The cavern has a ceiling and floor of anhydrite and parallel walls of schist to the north and marble to the south.
The cave itself is very young, as caves in anhydrite form very fast. It was soluted by meteoric water which solutes great amounts of anhydrite. At the moment there is no real exchange of water. Connections to the surface seem to be sealed by clay, and only a little amount of water leaves the cave towards the entrance. To keep the water at the same level some water is pumped into the cave.
The cave was closed for renovation but is now reopened. The new administration is very enthusiastic and will do its best to make each visit unforgettable.
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