Szepesi–Láner Cave system

The Szepesi–Láner cave system is one of the specially protected caves of Hungary. It is located in the Bükk National Park. The cave system was formed by connecting the Létrás-tetői cave, formerly known as Szepesi cave, and the Láner Olivér cave. It is the 12th deepest cave in Hungary. It is the sixth longest cave in the Bükk region.

Description

It is located on the Bükk plateau, in the eastern part of the Nagy plateau, Létrás-tetői area, at an altitude of 548 to 552 metres above sea level, where its two entrances are. It formed in limestone of middle Triassic age, gray, light‑gray, layered, thick‑layered and massive, showing characteristic fine‑grained texture and marble‑like patterning, which in some places is intersected by 1–10 centimetre thick calcite veins filling cracks.

The cave system’s debris fill consists, besides local limestone debris and blocks, of clay‑rich marl typical of the area outside the cave, quartzite fragments, volcanics, coarse sand and, in some places, rock flour and clay. On large surfaces the stalagmite floor is visible, the fill covers the passage floor discontinuously. On the side walls, at various heights, clayey crusts and sedimentary fragments have cemented and been preserved. These indicate former fill levels. The cave is hydrologically active only during the most rainy periods, generally after the spring snow melt. Most of the water is present in the cave during these periods.

A permit from the Bükk National Park Directorate is required to visit the sealed cave. Most of it can be traversed with basic cave‑walking equipment due to the installed iron ladders, but rope climbing requires good climbing skills and the use of rope‑technical equipment. One group may visit per day, consisting of at most 10 persons.

The cave also occurs in its literature under the name Szepesi-Láner cave system (Neidenbach, Pusztay 2005). In 1998 the cave was first called Szepesi–Láner cave system in its literature.

Research history

At the end of December 1993 the Létrás-tetői cave was connected to the Láner Olivér cave system and thus the cave system was created. From August 3, 1996, according to the decree of the Minister of Environment and Regional Development 15/1996. (VII. 26.) KTM, the name Szepesi-Láner cave system was applied to the specially protected Létrás-tetői cave located in the Bükk Mountains. From May 14, 1998, according to the decree of the Minister of Environment and Regional Development 13/1998. (V. 6.) KTM, the Szepesi–Láner cave system located in the Bükk Mountains, within the jurisdiction of the Bükk National Park Directorate, may be visited with the directorate’s permission. From May 17, 2001, according to the decree of the Minister of Environment 13/2001. (V. 9.) KöM, the Szepesi-Láner cave system located in the Bükk Mountains is a specially protected cave. At the same time the provision 1/1982. (III. 15.) OKTH concerning the determination of the circle of specially protected caves loses its effect.

According to the cave description in the book *Hungary's Caves of Special Protection* published in 2003, its measured length is 2073 m, but together with the unmeasured domes and side branches it is about 2500 m long, has a vertical extent of 158 m, a horizontal extent of 625 m, and its entrances are at 548 m and 552 m above sea level. The depth measured from the entrance of Szepesi Cave to the surface of the Eastern Branch lake is 143.8 m, plus an additional water depth of 9–15 m reached by scuba dives. According to the length list compiled by Csaba Egri and Attila Nyerges in the book, the Szepesi–Láner cave system, cave catalogue number 5372‑3, located in the Bükk Mountains, was the 16th longest cave in Hungary in 2002. The cave, about 2500 m long in 2002, was 1660 m long in 1977 and 1500 m long in 1987. According to the depth list compiled by Csaba Egri and Attila Nyerges in the book, the Szepesi–Láner cave system, cave catalogue number 5372‑3, located in the Bükk Mountains, was the 8th deepest cave in Hungary in 2002. The 158 m deep cave in 2002 was also 166 m deep in 1977 and 1987.

In the 2005 publication Hungarian Mountain Sports and Tourist Encyclopedia the cave has its own entry. According to the entry the Szepesi–Láner cave system is located in the Bükk Mountains and is a highly protected natural value created by connecting two caves. The cave system consisting of two caves is longer than 2500 m and almost 160 m deep. The closed cave can be entered with a permit. The connection of the Láner Olivér cave with the water siphon of the eastern branch of the Szepesi cave, through collapsing passages, was achieved in 1993 by Károly Bátori, Gergely Ferenczy and János Kiss. According to the entry on Láner Olivér, currently the Spirál cave together with the Szepesi cave forms a cave system. One of the most significant discoveries of the Marcel Loubens Cave Research Association is the connection of the Láner Olivér cave (currently Szepesi–Láner cave system) with the Létrás‑tetői cave (1993). According to the entry on Speizi cave, the passages of the Speizi cave approach the Szepesi–Láner cave system.

From 1 September 2005, according to the Minister of Environment and Water 22/2005. (VIII. 31.) KvVM decree, the Szepesi–Láner cave system located in the Bükk Mountains within the operating area of the Bükk National Park Directorate may be visited with the supervision authority’s permission. From 1 September 2005, according to the Minister of Environment and Water 23/2005. (VIII. 31.) KvVM decree, the Szepesi–Láner cave system in the Bükk Mountains is a highly protected cave. From 8 March 2007, according to the Minister of Environment and Water 3/2007. (I. 22.) KvVM decree, the Szepesi–Láner cave system located in the Bükk Mountains within the operating area of the Bükk National Park Directorate may be viewed with the directorate’s permission.