Hófehérke Cave

Snow White Cave is one of the inactive water-draining caves located in the Gerecse Mountains within the Danube–Ipoly National Park. Bats also occur in its passages.

Description

It is at the bottom of a sinkhole in a side valley branching from the upper section of Wolf Valley, which cuts into the eastern side of Halyagos Hill on the outskirts of Vértesszőlős. The entrance is vertical, oriented along the axis, and is a constructed, artificial iron plate door. The entrance shaft is secured with concrete well rings for its upper 5 m.

The entrance shaft leads to a flat, slightly sloping passage that begins at a depth of 7 m and ends after 5 m at the side of a small chamber. This chamber, with an area of 2–3 m² and a height of 2–4 m, has a vertical fissure divided by small steps at its base, leading to the end of the cave. The fissure was formed along the K–Ny and ÉK–DNy fault lines of the thick-bedded Upper Triassic limestone due to corrosion by infiltrating waters. Erosional forms can also be observed on its walls. It has few mineral formations. A few small speleothems are visible. It can be visited with permission from the Danube–Ipoly National Park Directorate.

The air temperature varies between 7.5 °C and 10 °C, with an annual average of 8.8 °C. The Gerecse Cave Research and Conservation Association conducted bat observations in Snow White Cave, during which they identified three bat species: the lesser horseshoe bat, the greater mouse‑eared bat, and the common bat, among the group members. Based on the observation data and the occasionally found fresh droppings, it can be considered a permanent winter bat roost with a small number of species and individuals.

In 1976 the cave was first called Snow‑White Cave in the literature. The cave also appears in the literature under the names 16th water well (Jáki, Gerber 1969), 16th water well (Jáki, Gerber 1969), 16th water well (Juhász 1978), 16th water well (Juhász 1994), 16th water well (Székely 1994), Tóni Cave (F. T. 1978) and Tóni Cave (Dienes 1967). Because of the name of Antal Temesvölgyi, the regional forest manager who provided significant assistance for the 1967 survey, the cave was named Tóni Cave. In 1967 the Railway Builders’ Initiative Sports Club Cave‑Exploration Group named the cave after him.

Research History

The Railway Builders’ Initiative Sports Club Cave‑Exploration Group camped in 1967 near the Szőlősi Gold Hole. Among the aims of the camp were the investigation of the two sinkholes adjacent to the Szőlősi Gold Hole and an overview of the surrounding area. The group excavated the second sinkhole near the Szőlősi Gold Hole. The cave uncovered from the sinkhole was named Tóni Cave. According to the group’s 1967 report, the Gerecse stream is water‑poor, but there are many sinkholes that collect the mountain’s water. Apparently a large cave system exists underground, channeling its water to the Fényes spring in Tata and to the water well in Tatabánya. It can be assumed that Tóni Cave is one entrance to this cave system.

To prove this, they intended to paint the cave water with fluorescein, but this method was not feasible because of the settlements’ water supply, so they planned to mark the water with table salt, which would not affect its taste. The group would excavate a sinkhole about 10 m from Tóni Cave, another sinkhole on the opposite side of the forest path, and a third sinkhole about one kilometre from Tóni Cave. It can be assumed that these three sinkholes continue within the large cave system.

In the 1969 report of the Tatabánya Coal Mines Speleology Group it is written that the group's number 3, led by Gyula Gyémánt, broke through in 1969 the 20 m diameter and 5 m deep 16‑numbered water well (water well No. 16) and uncovered a previously unknown cave beneath the water well. The entrance to the cave is at the bottom of the water well. The cave was previously unknown, but the water well may have been mentioned by Gyula Vigh in his compilation published in the 1937 issue of Turisták Lapja, which discusses the gold holes. The gold‑hole sinkhole cave is not identical with this one.

When the exploration work began, the periodic activity of the water well caused many problems. During rainy periods the water carried large amounts of debris and rotten wood to the entrance. After removing the sediment the group members found, at a depth of 9 m, an entrance formed in the sandstone, consisting of two small openings. The relative depth of the cave is 32 m. The water well has good air exchange, the passage system is ventilated and it is assumed to be in close connection with the water wells located to the south.

In the manuscript of the *Hungary Cave Gazetteer* completed in 1976 and written by Károly Bertalan it can be read that the Snow‑White Cave’s entrance is in the Gerecse Mountains, about 2 km east‑north‑east of the Tatabánya‑Újváros sanatorium, in Vértesszőlős, on the plateau of Halyagos‑hill. The 32 m deep cave opens from a 6 m deep water well. Three chambers are known in the active water‑well cave. Because of the water‑well activity it is dangerous to explore. The part of the manuscript concerning the cave is written based on a publication.

In the autumn and spring of 1977 the Vértes László Karst and Cave Research Group worked on opening the clogged entrance of the Snow‑White Cave. Removing about 4–5 m³ of debris did not allow entry into the cave. Because of the agreement made in 1977 the work is continued by the Kőbánya Cave Research and Mountaineering Section.

According to the 1978 report of the Vértes László Karst and Cave Research Group the group re‑evaluated the site map prepared by the group in 1969 because of the previous results and therefore the 16th water sink is the Snow‑White Cave. The 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th water sinks are the drainage basin of the Snow‑White Cave. The members wanted to name the caves discovered near the Snow‑White Cave after the seven dwarfs. The suggested names were Hapci, Morgó and Szende. Attached to the report was a 1:10 000 scale site map on which the location of the Halyagos Mountain caves and water sinks can be seen. The site map marks the location of the Snow‑White Cave.