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Ochtinská Aragonite Cave

Is a specific phenomenon also from the world caves perspective, which attracts every visitor by its variability, wealth and beauty of aragonite fill. It is located on the northern slope of the Hrádok Hill in the Slovak Ore Mountains on the road between Štítnik and Jelšava, 26 km from Rožňava. It is the only one of its kind in Europe and stands out by aragonite fills of various forms.

History and present

The cave was discovered by chance by M.Cangár and J. Prošek, the employees of the East-Slovakian Ore Survey in Jelšava, while drilling the geological survey Kapusta Adit in 1954. The cave was inspected by the people from Turista national enterprise in 1955 and the first survey works took place in 1956. Cave development works for opening to the public started in 1966 by thirling the access adit 145 m long, which enabled openin the cave to the public in 1972. The length of accessible part is 230 m.