Peştera Urşilor
Bears' Cave
Useful Information
 |
| Image: one of the numerous formations. |
| Location: |
Chişcãu.
National Road 76 (DN-76) Oradea-Deva, atkm 86, in Sudrigiu, Local Road 763 (DJ-763), 16km asphalt road.
|
| Open: |
All year Tue-Sun 10-17
|
| Fee: |
Adulta Lei 35,000, photo permission Lei 70,000.
[2002]
|
| Classification: |
 Karst cave.
|
| Light: |
electric
|
| Dimension: |
H=482m a.s.l., T=10°C, L=1500m.
|
| Guided tours: |
L=847m, D=45min.
|
| Bibliography: |
|
| Address: |
|
| Last update: | $Date: 2007/11/19 21:32:42 $ |
History
- 17-SEP-1983 discovered during quarry works in the marble quarry of Chişcãu. First explored by Curta Traian.
- 14-JUL-1986 opened to the public.
Description
 |
| Image: Interesting stalagtites. |
Peştera Urşilor means Bears' Cave.
The cave was named so, as numerous
cave bears (Ursus spelaeus)
were found in this cave.
The cave was visited by these large animals more than 15.000 years ago.
But one day, a rock slide closed the entrance while more than 140 bears were
still in the cave.
Becoming hungry, the bears killed one another until all were dead.
This story is told by their remains, tons of bear bones covering the floor of
large parts of the cave with the marks of bear teeth.
Now the cave was undisturbed until 17-SEP-1983, when the cave was discovered
during quarry works.
The marble and limestone of this area was mined by the inhabitants of the
nearby village Chişcãu.
So the rediscovery of the cave after a blast, was only a matter of time.
The first one who visited the cave was the quarry worker Curta Traian
from Chişcãu.
Peştera Urşilor is the only modern show cave in Romania, with paved
paths, banisters, and electric light.
This was a sort of experiment, to test if show caves are interesting for
tourists.
But although this experiment worked very well - the cave attracts more than
200.000 visitors every year - it is still the only well developed show cave in
Romania.
And this may stay so for the next time, as Romania is probably the poorest
country in Europe, still suffering from 40 years of socialist Ceaucescu regime.
See also
