Fali Cave

The Fali niche is a cave located in Dömös in the Visegrád Mountains of the Danube–Ipoly National Park.

Description

The Fali niche is on the north‑west side of the second speleothem tower of the Vadálló rocks, at a height of 4.5 metres. Above the niche there is still a three‑metre wall up to the top of the tower.

The niche is 5 metres wide, 3.5 metres high, and 3 metres long. The latter is the most uncertain datum. Observation of the cave’s actual shape was hindered by the fact that its floor was completely overgrown with ivy. Inside, on the right side, interesting smooth‑walled, dissolution‑form‑like structures can be seen. Dissolution here can be considered almost absent.

Formation

It is conceivable that the dissolution‑form‑like structures originate from gas‑eruption channels—perhaps the whole cavity is a remnant of a gas bubble. This idea is supported by the fact that at the base of the speleothem tower there are also tubes 10–30 centimetres in diameter, extending as far as they could be illuminated.

Research history

The cave was discovered and described in 1997 by Imre Gönczöl and his team. They could not reach it from anywhere. Tímea Gönczöl reached the edge of the niche on the right‑hand ledge, but Imre Gönczöl discouraged her from climbing in because it was not secured with a rope. The cave was observed with a telescope from the next tower side and from below, but much information comes from Tímea Gönczöl, who nevertheless saw it from the closest distance, although she could not see the interesting right side. Because of the descriptions, the dimensions were assessed by estimation and comparison, and the bearings are realistic.

On 12 November 2001, the manuscript titled *Bibliography of Hungary's Non-Karst Caves* listed the Fali Chamber in its cave name index. The cave name index mentions one literary work that deals with the cave. Clause 366 does not mention it, clause 365 does. In the study published in the 2014 *Karst Development* it is stated that the Fali Chamber located in Dömös is one of the 101 caves of the Visegrád Mountains. The cave is 3 m long and has a vertical extent of 3.2 m.