Demänovské Caves
Demänovský Cave System, formed by the Demänovka River on the right side of the Demänovská Valley in the Low Tatras Mts., is the longest speleologically interconnected karst system in Slovakia. The length exceeds 35 km.
It is formed in Middle Triassic dark-grey Guttenstein limestones of the Krížna Nappe, along tectonic faults. It presents a large and complicated complex of cave passages, domes and abysses developed in 9 evolution levels with an active allochthonous stream.
It consists of a system of 10 speleologically interconnected caves. The most important are: Demänovská Cave of Liberty (8,336 m) and Demänovská Ice Cave (2,445 m), which are open to the public. Further are Demänovská Cave of Peace(16,174 m), Vyvieranie Cave (1,437 m) and Pustá Cave (4,663 m). The cave system comprises also: Údolná Cave, Cave pod útesom, Pavúčia Cave, Cave trosiek and Cave no. 15.
Other important caves like Štefanová Cave (10,047 m), Okno Cave (2,570 m), Demänovská Bear Cave (1,447 m) and Suchá Cave (780 m) are genetically related. We can expect speleological connection of these caves with the system some time in the future, but also further discoverie
Some caves of the Demänovský Cave System belong to important wintering places for bats. 9 bat spiecies were found in the Demänovská Ice Cave. This location is one of the most important hibernation spaces for the Northern Bat (Eptesicus nilssonii) in Slovakia. Regular and abundant is the occurrence of the Whiskered/Brandt’s Bat (Myotis mystacinus/brandtii), and less the Greater Mouse-eared Bat (Myotis myotis). The Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) and Greater Mouse-eared Bat (Myotis myotis) are frequent in the Psie diery part of the Pustá Cave. Remarkable is also occurrence of a specific form of invertebrate cave beetle Duvalius microphthalmus spelaeus, which is endemic species of the Demänovský Karst. Also rare cave palpigrade Eukoenenia spelaea is living here. The occurrence of this species here and in the Važecká Cave presents the most northern border of distribution of a whole order of palpigrades (Palpigradida) in Europe. Numerous populations are formed by troglobitic springtails Deuteraphorura kratochvili, Pseudosinella paclti and Protaphorura janosik. From among the stygobitic crustaceans Niphargus tatrensis is living in underground water streams together with several species of copepods living in microspaces in riverbed sediments. The Demänovské Caves are an important palaeontological locality. Rich findings of cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) bones are known from the Demänovská Ice.