Várgesztesi Pothole

The Várgesztesi-zsomboly is a cave located in the Vértes Mountains within the Danube–Ipoly National Park, in Várgesztes.

Description

The cave is situated in the central part of the Vértes Mountains, in the outskirts of Várgesztes. It can be reached from the pond at the beginning of Várgesztes by following the blue stripe marking of the National Blue Trail, then turning left after reaching the rock walls visible from a distance, and walking about 300 m. The cave entrance courtyard is in a forest and is a significant-sized sinkhole. The spacious entrance courtyard most likely formed due to the collapse of a large cave chamber. From the sinkhole the cave entrance can be approached on a steep slope. The cave entrance is 12 m wide, 3.5 m high, naturally formed, curved and oriented along a horizontal axis.

The cave developed in Eocene limestone. After the entrance a few short crawl passages follow. Its fill consists of forest soil, humus and a considerable amount of rock debris. Its present shape was influenced by surface effects (rock fragmentation due to frost), which caused the original form to disappear. The cave is 12 m long, extends 4 m vertically, is 1 m deep and 3 m high. No significant traces of life are visible in the cave. Only a few insects, mainly mosquitoes and spiders, occur there. No basic caving equipment is required to explore the easily accessible cavity and no permission is needed.

In 1990 the cave was first mentioned in literature under the name Várgesztesi-zsomboly. In literature the cave also appears under the names Hideg-lyuk (Polacsek 2003), Jégverem-barlang (Polacsek 2003), Várgesztesi-szakadék (Kocsis 2006) and Várgesztesi szakadék (Polacsek 2003).

Research history

On September 1 1990 Imre Gábor and Zsolt Polacsek (two members of Külker SC) surveyed the cave, and using the survey Zsolt Polacsek prepared the plan map and longitudinal section map of Várgesztesi-zsomboly (Vértes Mountains). The maps depict the cave at a scale of 1:200 (or 1:100). The plan map shows the east direction on the map sheet. According to the survey the cave is 15 m long and 8 m deep.

According to the 1990 report of the Külker SC Barlangkutató Group, the Várgesztesi-zsomboly is located about 200 m from the Ny end of the Várgesztesi stone quarries. The sinkhole is approximately 15 m in diameter and 6–8 m deep. A talus wall bounds one side of it. The cavity most likely formed due to the collapse of a cave chamber. It is possible that stones were extracted there. The extending passages have become filled, most likely collapsed. Its known parts are flat, filled. The cave voids known up to about 13 m in length are located on the D side of the sinkhole, in its lower part. The cavity formed in Eocene limestone containing nummulites and other macrofauna. Because the accumulation is large, exploratory work in it is not advisable. It has insignificant fauna. The cave map and photo documentation have been completed. The cave photo documentation was prepared by Zsolt Polacsek. The manuscript contains two map excerpts showing the geographical location of the Várgesztesi-zsomboly. The report includes the cave maps made in 1990.

In 2003 Ákos Kocsis and Zsolt Polacsek surveyed the cave, and later that year, based on the survey, Zsolt Polacsek prepared the plan map of Várgesztesi-zsomboly (4522/20) and two longitudinal section maps. The maps depict the cave at a scale of 1:100. The plan map indicates the east direction on the map sheet. The plan map shows the location of the two longitudinal sections within the cave.

According to the registration sheet prepared on December 3, 2003, based on cadastral basic data recording, the cave with cadastral number 4522-20 Várgesztesi-zsomboly (Várgesztesi gorge, Cold-hole, Ice-pile cave) is located in Várgesztes, in the Vértes Mountains (Komárom-Esztergom county). The cave is in a forest on the mountain side, 12 m wide, 3.5 m high, natural, curved in shape and with a horizontal axis-oriented entrance. The thoroughly surveyed cave is 12 m long, 5 m vertical extent, 3.5 m high, 0 m deep and 5 m horizontal extent. The cavity lies in Eocene limestone (Szőci Limestone Formation?) and its formation was prepared by tectonics. The cavity was created due to tectonics and collapse.

The floor of the simply shaped cave slopes, and its characteristic sheet type is the collapsed cave cavity, with a fissure in the interior. Large morphological forms cannot be recognized in it because of later rock disintegration. Small morphological forms: angular shapes, freeze‑formed shapes. The inorganic, locally formed debris fill consists of rock debris. The cave floor is composed of soil, humus. Small moss patches occur near the entrance. In the host rock there are Eocene nummulites. Dripping waters (periodically) probably occur in it. Because of the size and nature of the cave, surface temperature conditions apply inside it. The locals have known the cavity for a long time. The cave was first mentioned in written form in the 1991 yearbook of the Tatabánya Cave Research Association. The practically untouched cave floor is practically untouched.

The cave can be approached at the foot of the rock walls, in the forest, on a marked, then unmarked path. No basic caving equipment is required to visit the cave entrance without a permit. The cave interior was completely dry when explored. Legal status: protected under decree 18 of 1961. Competent nature conservation authority: Danube–Ipoly National Park Directorate. Property manager: Hungarian State Treasury Ltd. Its surface has local (municipal level) protection. The cave entrance is under the management of state-owned forestry (Vértesi Forestry and Wood Industry Ltd.). The surface land use is forest. Related documents: cave map (scale 1:100), description, photograph of the cave entrance.