Balogh-völgyi No 2 Cave

Balogh-völgyi No 2 Cave is a cave located in the Vértes Mountains within the Danube–Ipoly National Park, in Csákvár.

Description

The cave is situated in the forest of the protected area on the outskirts of Csákvár. It lies beside a nature trail that starts from the parking lot at the edge of the settlement in the Balogh valley, north of the centre of Csákvár. Where the trail begins to rise sharply and small rocks appear on both sides, to the right from that point, on the K side of the valley, about 15 m from the path, in a rock wall facing south, at an altitude of 296 m above sea level, is the entrance of the cavity. At the base of the rock wall is Balogh-völgyi No 1 Cave, and climbing up to the right, 5 m higher, is the entrance of Balogh-völgyi No 2 Cave. The entrance of the latter cave is covered by tree canopies.

The cave’s square-shaped entrance opens in the middle of the rock wall, with a small stalactite terrace in front of it. There are no formations in the cavity within the Triassic dolomite. It consists of a single comfortably walkable, dry and horizontal cavity, whose floor is also made of stalactite. Mostly there are traces on the cavity walls that testify to the formation of the cave due to dissolution, but in some places the walls have also been shaped by freeze‑thaw rock disintegration. The soot‑covered walls and fire‑place traces in the cavity indicate occasional use of the cave. The cave, which is difficult to reach (by rock climbing), can be easily visited in street clothes and without a permit.

In 1984 the cave was first called Balogh-völgyi No 2 Cave in the literature. The cave also appears in the literature under the names Balogh-völgyi–2. odú (Bertalan 1976), Balogh-völgyi 2. odú (Egri 2003) and Balogh-völgyi–2. odú (Kocsis 1975).

Research history

In the publication written by Antal Kocsis and released in 1975 it is mentioned that Balogh-völgyi No 2 Cave (Balogh-völgyi–2. odú) is located above Balogh-völgyi No 1 Cave, at a height of 8 m. The Balogh-völgyi No 2 Cave formed in brecciated dolomite is accessible only by rock climbing. The cavity is 1.7 m long, 1.5 m wide and 1.8 m high. The cave continuously expands and changes due to precipitation water and temperature variations, resulting in dissolution and rock disintegration. The map inset in the publication shows the geographical location of Balogh-völgyi No 2 Cave. On the map the cave is marked with the number 16.

In the manuscript titled *Hungary's Cave Register* completed in 1976, it is written that the Balogh-völgyi No 2 cave (Balogh-völgyi–2. odú) is located in the Vértes Mountains, in Csákvár. From Csákvár to Ny, about 2 km, the entrance of Balogh-völgyi No 2 is 8 m above the Balogh-völgyi No 1 cave. The Balogh-völgyi No 2 cave is accessible only by rock climbing. The cave is 1.7 m long, 1.5 m wide and 1.8 m high. Due to temperature changes and the effect of rainwater, the still-forming cavity was created in primary dolomite. The part of the manuscript describing the cave was written based on one publication.

According to the manuscript prepared in 1979 by the Alba Regia Cave Research Group, Balogh-völgyi No 2 (B2) was described by Antal Kocsis under the same name. In his publication this is cavity number 16, which is located above the Balogh-völgyi No 1 cave, 8 m higher. However, Balogh-völgyi No 2 lies lower, being 4 m higher than the Balogh-völgyi No 1 cave. Balogh-völgyi No 2 is on the edge of Csákvár (Fejér County, Bicske district), in the rock wall of the Balogh-völgyi No 1 cave, above cavity 1, slightly to the left of it. Its almost square entrance, 1.7 m high and 1.6 m wide, opens on the steep rock‑wall side from a small stone terrace. Ferenc Szolga can show the locally significant cavity.

The dry small rock cavity's enclosing rock is dolomite breccia. There is no filling due to the cavity's location. It consists of a single cavity reminiscent of a cube. In the wall on the left rear side a small hollow, hole-like niche is recessed, but there is also a hole in the ceiling part of the entrance. Its floor is made of slate, on which there are soot and fire‑making traces. No equipment is needed to enter the cavity, but one must climb a rock wall to reach the cave. The cavity is 2.1 m horizontally extensive, 1.7 m high and 1.6 m wide. Members of the Alba Regia Cave Research Group visited the insignificant cave on 11 February 1979. The members performed the cavity's exploration, survey and described the cave.

The manuscript includes the cave's plan map, longitudinal section map and cross‑section map. The maps depict the cave at a scale of 1:100. The plan map shows the east‑west direction marked on the map sheet. The location of the cross‑section within the cave can be observed on the plan map. The cave was surveyed by Ferenc Szolga and Tibor Widermann on 11 February 1979 for the preparation of the maps. The maps were drawn by Ferenc Szolga on 23 February 1979. The manuscript shows the map of the western part of Csákvár (approximately 1:25 000 scale). The east‑west direction is marked on the map. The geographical location of Balogh‑völgyi No 2 cavity (on the map: B2) can be observed on the map.

In the national cave list of the book *Caves of Hungary* published in 1984, the cave appears among the caves of the Vértes Mountains under the name Balogh-völgyi 2. sz. odú. Related to the list, the geographical location of the cave is shown on a 1:500 000 scale map presenting the geographical position of the caves of the Dunazug Mountains. In the book written by Béni Kornél and Viszló Levente, which saw the light of day in 1996, it is stated that the two chambers of Balogh-völgy (Balogh-völgyi 1. sz. odú, Balogh-völgyi 2. sz. odú) and the rock shelter are in every respect similar to the caves of Kőlik-völgy.