Kupolás Cave

Kupolás Cave is one of the caves located in the Pilis Mountains within the Danube–Ipoly National Park, situated in the Csévi ridges.

Description

The entrance of the cave is in Pilisszentlélek, on the north‑eastern side of the Pilis mountain, in the Csévi ridges (a strictly protected area), located 20 m southeast of the Legény Cave entrance and 10 m lower. The entrance facing south‑north is situated directly beside the trail leading to Leány Cave, at the foot of a rock wall.

Formed in Dachstein limestone, the inactive spring cave was once possibly connected to the Legény Cave system. On the walls of Kupolás Cave there are spherical stalagmites and spherical chambers, which attest to mixed corrosion formation. It contains fossil dripstone poisoning, cold‑water calcite, wolf‑tooth and, in some places, limonite deposits. Its fill consists of humus, rock debris and clay. The completely dry cave is inhabited by many spiders. The cave’s beautiful speleothems are noteworthy from a professional standpoint. The cave passage is accessible with basic equipment and no permission is required to visit the cave.

The name Kupolás Cave derives from the nicely rounded domes found at its entrance and in its upper passage. In 1990 the cave was first called Kupolás Cave in the literature. It also occurs in the literature under the name cavity next to Legény Cave (Ariadne 2005).

Research History

In 1990 József Kárpát, Pálinkás and Vajda surveyed Kupolás Cave, and based on the survey the cave’s plan map and length‑section map were produced, depicting the cave at a scale of 1:100. 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 Kupolás Cave (marked as Kupolás on the map).

In the manuscript written by József Kárpát in 1990 it is mentioned that the Kupolás Cave (Pilisszentlélek) entrance is located 20 m east‑north from the entrance of Legény Cave, 10 m lower. The entrance is situated at the foot of a rock wall next to the path leading to Leány Cave. Until now the cave had not been described. It received its name because of the nicely rounded domes at the entrance and in the upper passage. The cave is 21 m long, +7 m deep and extends 10 m horizontally.

The inactive spring cave formed in Dachstein limestone may once have been connected with the Legény Cave system. On the walls of Kupolás Cave spherical stalagmites and spherical chambers can be seen, which attest to mixed corrosion formation. There are fossil dripstone encrustations, cold‑water calcite, wolf‑tooth and, in some places, limonite deposits. Its fill consists of humus, rock debris and clay. The completely dry cave is inhabited by many spiders. From the cave a side branch extends eastward, to the left, narrow but leading to the surface through a penetrable opening. The endpoint opposite the entrance appears promising for exploratory research. There are no signs of vandalism in the cave, its beautiful formations are noteworthy from a professional point of view. The description includes the cave maps made in 1990 and an overview map of the Legény Cave area (Csévi cliffs).

In the manuscript written by József Kárpát in 1991 it is mentioned that the Kupolás Cave (Piliscsév) is 21 m long and 7 m deep. In 2002, on behalf of the Institute of Speleology, two members of the Ariadne Karst and Cave Research Association, Ádám Kovács and Richárd Kovács, surveyed the Kupolás Cave with the cave cadastral number 4840‑75. Based on the survey Richárd Kovács compiled the cave plan map with five cross‑sections. According to the survey the cave is 34 m long, 0.8 m deep and 7.5 m high. The association’s 2005 report states that the Kupolás Cave (cavity next to Legény Cave) with cadastral number 4840‑75 is 34 m long, has a vertical extent of 8.3 m, is 0.8 m deep, 7.5 m high and 13 m wide horizontally.

According to the association’s 2008 report the Kupolás Cave (cavity next to Legény Cave) with cadastral number 4840‑75 is 34 m long, has a vertical extent of 8.3 m, is 0.8 m deep, 7.5 m high and 13 m wide horizontally. According to the association’s 2009 report the Kupolás Cave (cavity next to Legény Cave) with cadastral number 4840‑75 is 34 m long, has a vertical extent of 8.3 m, is 0.8 m deep, 7.5 m high and 13 m wide horizontally. According to the association’s 2010 report the Kupolás Cave with cadastral number 4840‑75 is 34 m long, has a vertical extent of 8.3 m, is 0.8 m deep, 7.5 m high and 13 m wide horizontally.

According to the association's 2011 report, the Kupolás Cave with the cave registry number 4840-75 is 34 m long, has a vertical extent of 8.3 m, a depth of 0.8 m, a height of 7.5 m and a horizontal extent of 13 m. According to the association's 2013 report, the Kupolás Cave with the cave registry number 4840-75 is 34 m long, has a vertical extent of 8.3 m, a depth of 0.8 m, a height of 7.5 m and a horizontal extent of 13 m. According to the association's 2014–2015 report, the Kupolás Cave with the cave registry number 4840-75 is 34 m long, has a vertical extent of 8.3 m, a depth of 0.8 m, a height of 7.5 m and a horizontal extent of 13 m.