Dobšinská Ice Cave

One of the most important ice caves globally, a national monument and a UNESCO´s World Heritage site since 2000. The cave complex is 1 438 m long and 112 m deep. The main part is created by a giant cavity descending from the entrance to the depth of 70 m. The cave is largery filled with a glacier, sometimes up to the ceiling, and divided into individual parts (Great and Small Hall, Ruffiny’s Corridor and Ground Floor). Ice fill occurs in the form of floor ice, icefalls, ice stalagmites and columns. Glaciated surface has 9772 sq.m, ice volume reaches 110100 m3. The highest thickness of ice is in the Great Hall with 26.5 meters. Average annual temperatures remain under the freezing point all year round. The cave was discovered in 1870 and open to the public in 1871. The cave belongs among the first electrically illuminated caves in the world (since 1881). The lenght of the guided cave tour is 515 m. Occurence of 12 bat species.