Ochtinská Aragonitová Jaskyna

Ochtina Aragonite Cave

Useful Information

Location:	Revucka Highland, between Jelsava and Stitnik. Revucka vrchovina, Hradok, cadastral area Ochtina, district Roznava, Kosicky region.
Open:	15-MAY to MAY Tue-Sun 9:30, 11, 12:30, 14. JUN to AUG Tue-Sun 9-16, hourly on the full hour. SEP to 15-NOV Tue-Sun 9:30, 11, 12:30, 14. [2021]
Fee:	Adults EUR 8, Children (6-15) EUR 4, Students EUR 7, Disabled EUR 4, Seniors (60+) EUR 7. Foto Permit EUR 10. [2021]
Classification:	Karst cave Palaeozoic crystalline limestones in phyllites (non-karst rocks). Hydrothermal cave.
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	L=300 m.
Guided tours:	L=585 m, D=45 min. V=28,000/a [2000]
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Ochtinská Aragonitová Jaskyna, 049 31 Roznavske Bystre, Tel: +421-941-4881050. Správa slovenských jaskýň, Hodžova 11, 031 01 Liptovský Mikuláš, Tel: +421-44-553-61-01, Tel: +421-44-553-64-11. 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

1954	discovered by the construction of an exploratory tunnel.
1972	opened for the public.
1995	inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Description

Ochtinska Aragonitova Jaskyna is, as the name says, an aragonite cave, the only one open to the public in Slovakia. The Speleothem aragonite occurs in kidney-shaped, needle-shaped and spiral forms. The aragonite needles with a length of up to 30 cm are quite exceptional.

The geological situation is really interesting and unique. In the Ochtinsky cryptokarst Palaeozoic limestones are located between phyllites, which are non-soluble rocks. In the Upper Cretaceous, part of the limestones was hydrothermically transformed into ankerites and siderites. The rich aragonite content of the cave was formed under the specific conditions of this geological situation.