Jaskyňa mŕtvych netopierov

J.M.N. - Cave of the Dead Bats

Useful Information

Location:	Central part of the Low Tatra in high-mountain karst of Dumbier (Dumbierske Tatry). From Bystra village by car to Trangoska, 1 hour walk. Alternative walks from cable car Chopok and Liptovsky Jan. (48.92514395952916, 19.638882927842825)
Open:	MAR to JUN Sat, Sun 10-16. JUL to AUG Tue-Sun 10-16. SEP to DEC Sat, Sun 10-16. Tours at 10, 12, 14, 16. Prebooking mandatory! [2021]
Fee:	Excursion - A: Adults EUR 13, Children (8-18) EUR 8.. Speleotrekking - B: Adults EUR 40, with A EUR 50. Speleotrekking - C: Adults EUR 50, with A+B EUR 60. [2021]
Classification:	Karst cave alpine cave, Mesozoic limestone and dolomite.
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	L=18,000 m, VR=300 m, A=1,520 m asl, T=1-3,6 °C.
Guided tours:	Excursion - A: D=80min, L=1,000 m, VR=50 m, MinAge=8. Speleotreking - B: D=2h, L=3,000 m, MinAge=18. Speleotreking - C: D=3h, MinAge=18.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Speleo Club Slovakia, Tel: +421-905-135535. 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

27-SEP-1981	discovered.
03-AUG-1996	opened to the public, electric light.

Description

Jaskyňa mŕtvych netopierov (Cave of the Dead Bats) is named after the remains of thousands of bats, found in the cave. The temperature is very low and the cave is very windy, so it is not very suitable for hibernation. The chillness costs the bats too much energy and so many starve during winter, as their body fat is not sufficient. The oldest found bat skeletons are 6,000 years old, and every year new skeletons are found.

The cave is not really a show cave, although the Speleo Club Slovakia is advertising it so. All in all the one-hour walk (for physically fit) to the cave and the caving-like tour make it an experience for the physically fit and adventurous cave visitor. The short tour is equipped with light and the paths are prepared, but it is still a very rough, not to say hair-raising, cave experience. The minimum age of eight should definitely be taken serious. Even the operators state "that the route is more challenging compared to commonly accessible caves". This means something as regular show caves in Slovakia may require an ascent of 260 m and have 1000 steps inside the cave. Lighting is powered by a diesel generator in the cave house, where the guides live while on duty during summer. There is no vehicle access: diesel and all other supplies are carried up on the guide's back.

If the short tour is not enough, there are longer tours, which are real cave trekking tours. This means caving gear, light, physical fitness and a little experience. The longer tours may include the short tour. The longest tour is a half day trip to the biggest hall of the cave, Bystrický dóm (Bystrica hall). It is located at level seven 180m below the MR Štefánik hut at the entrance, and has a volume of 52,500 m³.

The mount Dumbier (2,043 m asl) is the highest mountain of Nizke Tatry, the low Tatra. The area is a popular hiking area with trails, cable cars and a ski area to the west. The limestone is a package of less than one square kilometre and about 350 m thick. This whole volume is karstified, and most of it is filled with the 12 levels of the Cave of the Dead Bats.

The cave is rather exceptional, as there are numerous places with abundant speleothems despite the high elevation. Even more interesting are lava intrusions into the limestone, which can be seen on all tours, including the so-called tourist part. The lava entered the rock following cracks and clefts, which may be of tectonic, but also of karst origin. This means, the lava filled very old caves of a paleokarst, a karst which formed much earlier than today's caves.