Csiga Cave

The Csiga-hole is a cave located in the Pilis Mountains within the Danube–Ipoly National Park, situated in the Csévi ridges.

Description

The cave is located in Pilisszentlélek, on the northern side of the Pilis mountain, in the Csévi ridges (a strictly protected area). The entrance of Csiga-hole is situated 30 m at 230° from the Legény cave, 5 m from the trail. The horizontal, east‑west oriented entrance, 1.1 m wide and 1 m high, lies at the foot of a sloping and overhanging rock wall.

The passage narrows further inside, then widens slightly at the end, where there is a massive 10 cm stalactite. The 4.7 m long cave is practically horizontal. Most of it can only be traversed by crawling. On its walls one can observe flowstone formations, cold‑water pea‑stones and fossil dripstones. The cavity is completely dry, filled with ash and humus. Many spiders and snails occur in it. The cave passage can be explored with basic equipment and no permit is required for visiting.

In 1990 the cave was first called Csiga-hole in the literature.

Research history

In 1990 József Kárpát surveyed Csiga-hole, and based on the survey he produced a 1:100 scale floor plan map of the cave and two cross‑section maps. The floor plan map shows the location of the two cross‑sections within the cave. In the same year József Kárpát prepared an overview map of the Legény cave area (Csévi ridges). The map shows the geographical location of the entrance of Csiga-hole (marked as Csiga on the map).

In the manuscript written by József Kárpát and produced in 1990 it is stated that the Csiga-hole (Pilisszentlélek) is located 230° at a distance of 30 m from Legény-barlang and 5 m from the trail. The entrance, oriented horizontally, is 1.1 m wide and 1 m high and lies at the foot of a sloping and overhanging rock wall. The passage narrows further inside, then widens slightly at the end, where there is a massive 10 cm stalagmite. The 4.7 m long cave is practically horizontal. Most of it is only passable by crawling. On its walls one can observe sloping formations, cold-water pea stones and fossil dripstones. The cavity is completely dry, filled with ash and humus. Many spiders and snails occur in it. It has not appeared in descriptions until now. The description includes the cave plan map, two cross‑section maps and an overview map of the Legény-barlang area (Csévi-szirtek).

The 1991 manuscript written by József Kárpát mentions that the Csiga-hole (Piliscsév) is 5 m long and has no depth. In 2002, on behalf of the Barlangtani Institute, two members of the Ariadne Karst and Cave Research Association, Richárd Kovács and Evelin Szabó, surveyed the Csiga-hole with the cave cadastral number 4840‑76. Based on the survey Richárd Kovács prepared the cave plan map, the longitudinal section map and two cross‑section maps. According to the survey the cave is 5.2 m long and +1.8 m deep. In 2002 Kovács also prepared a map on which the passage next to Legény-barlang and the Csiga-hole plan map are shown together. The association’s 2005 report states that the Csiga-hole with cadastral number 4840‑76 is 5.2 m long, has a vertical extent of 1.7 m, a depth of 0 m, a height of 1.7 m and a horizontal extent of 4.8 m.

According to the association's 2008 report, the Csiga-hole with cave registry number 4840-76 is 5.2 m long, 1.7 m vertical extent, 0 m deep, 1.7 m high and 4.8 m horizontal extent. According to the association's 2009 report, the Csiga-hole with cave registry number 4840-76 is 5.2 m long, 1.7 m vertical extent, 0 m deep, 1.7 m high and 4.8 m horizontal extent. According to the association's 2010 report, the Csiga-hole with cave registry number 4840-76 is 5.2 m long, 1.7 m vertical extent, 0 m deep, 1.7 m high and 4.8 m horizontal extent.

According to the association's 2011 report, the Csiga-hole with cave registry number 4840-76 is 5.2 m long, 1.7 m vertical extent, 0 m deep, 1.7 m high and 4.8 m horizontal extent. According to the association's 2013 report, the Csiga-hole with cave registry number 4840-76 is 5.2 m long, 1.7 m vertical extent, 0 m deep, 1.7 m high and 4.8 m horizontal extent. According to the association's 2014–2015 report, the Csiga-hole with cave registry number 4840-76 is 5.2 m long, 1.7 m vertical extent, 0 m deep, 1.7 m high and 4.8 m horizontal extent.