Vrelo Špilja

Matka Vrelo


Useful Information

Location: 20 km south of Skopje, in the Canyon of Matka, on the right bank of Treska River.
Open: JAN to FEB Sat, Sun, Hol 11-15.
MAR Fri 11-13, Sat, Sun Hol 11-16.
APR Thu, Fri 10-14, Sat, Sun Hol 10-16.
MAY Mon-Fri 10-15, Sat, Sun Hol 10-17.
JUN Mon-Fri 10-15, Sat, Sun Hol 10-18.
JUL to AUG Mon-Fri 10-16, Sat, Sun Hol 10-19.
SEP Thu, Fri 10-14, Sat, Sun Hol 10-16.
OCT Fri 10-14, Sat, Sun Hol 10-15.
NOV to DEC Sat, Sun, Hol 11-15.
During school holidays daily.
Closed 01-NOV, 25-DEC, 01-JAN.
[2022]
Fee: Adults MKD 30, Children (4-17) MKD 25, Children (0-5) free, Family (2+3) MKD 80.
Groups (15+): Adults MKD 25, Children (4-17) MKD 20.
[2022]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst Cave
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension: L=550 m, VR=330 m, T=8 °C, Twater=5 °C.
Guided tours: L=180 m, D=20 min, Max=20. V=10,000 [2021]
Photography:
Accessibility: yes
Bibliography:
Address: Vrelo Cave, Tel: +385-91-183-5000. E-mail:
Javna ustanova Priroda, Grivica 4, 51000 Rijeka, Tel: +385-51-352-400, Fax: +385-51-352-401. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1950 accidentally discovered during the extraction of a stone which was used to build a dam and a road around Lake Bajer near Fužine.
1998 cave developed as a show cave.

Description

Vrelo Špilja is located in the Canyon of Matka, next to the springs of Koritiste, on the right bank of the Treska River. The cave has two huge halls, and two lakes. The small lake is 8 m long and 15 m deep. The large lake is 35 m long, 4 m wide, and 18 m deep. Highlight is a 3 m high stalagmite, which is called Pine Cone because of its characteristic shape.

The cave was developed by the Peoni Speleological Society with financing from the Open Competition Fund of the EU Phare Cultural Development Program. The new developments were inaugurated in 2000.

The lower level of the cave is waterfilled. It is a 425 m long almost horizontal passage which finally reaches a depth of 67 m below the water level. From here a deep shaft goes down at least to 330 m below the highest surface of the river. This made this cave the deepest waterfilled cave of the world for several years, however, since 2016 the deepest is KarstHranická propast in Czechia with -404 m, and this is only second. It is still the deepest spring in the Balkans. However, such superlative tend to change rather frequently.

The water cave was explored by the Italian cave diver Luigi Casati, who is part of an international team of explorers. Casati is using Aquatek Voyager rebreathers and a bail-out open circuit decompression line with different gas mixes. During the exploration he set a new world record for cold water rebreather cave diving. The exploration is still ongoing.