Grutas de Mira de Aire

Grutas Mira d'Aire - Gruta de Moinhos Velhos - Gruta de Moinhos Veljhos

Useful Information

Location:	14 km south east of Porto de Mór. 85 km north east of Lisbon
Open:	Winter 9:30-18. Summer 9-19.
Fee:	Adults 600, Children (-12) 350.
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	L=4,000 m, VR=250 m.
Guided tours:	D=45 min., L=700 m, D=110 m.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:	J. A. Crispim (1987): Evolução da Hidrologia Subterrânea na Gruta de Moinhos Velhos (Mira de Aire), Departamento de Geologia da Faculdade de Ciências de Lisboa, Sociedade Portuguesa de Espeleologia, ALGAR. Bol. Soc. Port. Espeleologia, 1:3-8 - Lisboa, 1987.
Address:
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

1947	discovered.
1971	opened to the public.

Description

This is Portugal's largest caves system and the underground tour leads down through a series of colourfully lit caverns with some impressive speleothems. The last cavern, 110 m below the surface contains a huge lake with artificial waterfalls and dramatic artificial fountains.

Exit is via a fast elevator to the surface.

Text by Tony Oldham (2002). With kind permission.