Sárkány-lyuk-völgyi Cave

The Sárkány-lyuk-völgyi cave is a cave located in the Vértes Mountains within the Danube–Ipoly National Park, in Gánt.

Description

The cave is situated in the outskirts of Gánt, in a forest. On the north side of the Sárkány-lyuk-völgy, about 15 m above the road, in a densely overgrown shrubbery side, in a small rock cleft, at 311 m above sea level, is the entrance of the Sárkány-lyuk-völgyi cave. It can be reached from Véreskó along the road leading to the Fáni valley (on the left side of the road) starting from the Hirczy memorial, a path of about 1200 m. The entrance is not visible from the road due to previous overgrowth. The entrance facing east is natural, triangular, 3.1 m wide, 1.8 m high and oriented horizontally. On tourist maps the cave’s location is marked with a cave symbol and its name. The entrance of the Sárkány-lyuk-völgyi cave is 60 m east of the Sárkány-lyuk-völgyi 2nd chamber entrance, about 10 m higher.

The Sárkány-lyuk-völgyi cave formed in Triassic dolomite. It consists of a single small horizontal chamber that developed along the bedding of the rock due to freezing. Its filling consists of a little rock debris and dust. Ferns and other small herbaceous plants live at its entrance. Although the terrain is difficult (steep), the cave can be approached; no permission is required to visit the easily walkable cave in ordinary clothing.

In 2003 the cave was first called Sárkány-lyuk-völgyi cave in the literature. The cave also appears in the literature under the names Sárkány-lyuk-völgyi 1st chamber (Kordos 1984), Sárkány-lyuk-völgyi-odu (Alba Regia Barlangkutató Csoport 1979), Sárkánylyuk-völgyi-odú (Egri 2003), Sárkánylyuk-völgyi odú (Béni, Viszló 1996) and Sárkány-lyuk-völgyi–odú (Kocsis 1975).

Research History

In the publication written by Antal Kocsis and published in 1975 it is stated that the Sárkány-lyuk-völgyi–odú can be reached after covering 1150 m on the green-marked tourist trail leading from the Hirczy memorial to the Sárkány-lyuk-völgy. The entrance of the chamber opens on the north valley side, 10 m above the relative height, in a layered dolomitic cliff. The cave is 2.5 m long, 1.5 m high, and its external width is 3.5 m. Inside it narrows to 1 m and its height decreases to 0.5 m. The chamber was created by the erosion of the layered separation wall. Mosses, green algae, insects and spiders occur inside. The map accompanying the publication shows the geographical location of the Sárkány-lyuk-völgyi-odú. On the map the cave is marked with the number 22.

According to a manuscript prepared by the Alba Regia Cave Exploration Group in 1979, the Sárkány-lyuk-völgyi-odu (S1) is named Sárkány-lyuk-völgyi-odu in the publication by Kocsis Antal and has the number 22. The cave is located in Gánt (Fejér county, Móri district). On the southern side of the Sárkány-lyuk-völgy, starting from the Hirczy monument next to the industrial road leading from Vérteskő to the Fáni valley, the cavity is situated 1150 m from the monument at an elevation of 300 m a.s.l. Its entrance is clearly visible in the rocks of the steep, roofless valley side, opening about 15 m above the valley floor. Ferenc Szolga can show the locally significant cavity. The entrance facing west is triangular, 1.6 m high and 3.5 m wide. The horizontal-shelved small rock cavity is sometimes wet. Its enclosing rock is layered Triassic dolomite, whose bedding is 340°/24°. The fill consists of several large stone fragments, some rubble and crumbs. The right-hand part of the cave, which consists of a single cavity, is slightly set back but lower and narrower than the left-hand part.

According to the direction of the bedding planes, it was formed by freezing and thawing. On the front part of its ceiling, intense dripping can be observed in rainy weather, and ice stalactites in winter. Its thin filling consists of some organic residue. There are traces of fire and soot‑covered walls inside. The group found two broken pieces (pit?) in the cavity. Based on the traces, mouflons also occur there. Many ladybugs are in its cracks, and a small animal lives in its left‑hand foxhole. Its vegetation: harebell, nettle, wild hemp, mosses and lichens. It is widest in the entrance passage, where it is 3.5 m wide. There, it is also highest (1.6 m). The right‑hand side deepens to 2.6 m. It is not worthwhile to continue exploring the cavity. On 18 February 1979, during a visit to the cavity, the group carried out the cave’s survey, photography and description. The group discovered the 2nd numbered cavity of the Dragon‑Hole‑Valley while searching for the Dragon‑Hole‑Valley cave. The 2nd numbered cavity of the Dragon‑Hole‑Valley lies east‑north‑east of the Dragon‑Hole‑Valley cave, at a higher elevation, about 50 m away.

The manuscript contains the floor plan map of the Sárkány-lyuk-völgy cave and two cross-section maps, as well as the entrance drawing. The maps and the drawing depict the cave at a scale of 1:100. The floor plan map is marked with the east direction on the map sheet. The floor plan map shows the location of the two cross-sections in the cave. The cave was surveyed by Szolga Ferenc, Gönczöl Imréné, Kökény Károly and Zentai Ferenc on 18 February 1979 for the preparation of the maps. Using the survey, Szolga Ferenc drew the maps on 23 February 1979. The manuscript shows the map of Fáni Valley (approximately 1:10,000 scale). The map is marked with the east direction. The map shows the geographical location of the Sárkány-lyuk-völgy cave (on the map: S1). The manuscript contains three photographs that illustrate the cave. The first photograph shows the path leading to the cave, the second the cave entrance, and the third the view from the cave entrance (the Sárkány-lyuk-völgy). The photographs were taken by Zentai Ferenc.