Marble Cave Audio guide

Marble Cave in the Miętusia Valley

Marble Cave is one of the notable vertical caves of the Western Tatras. It lies on the slope of Gładki Upłaz, in the upper part of Kazalnica Miętusia, near Lejbusiova Cave, at an elevation of 1,771 metres. Its total length reaches 681 metres and its vertical range is 150.5 metres. For both visitors and speleologists, its intricate shaft-like structure is especially important, showing how strongly karst processes and tectonic fractures have shaped the landscape here.

The character of the cave

The cave begins with a 13-metre entrance shaft, which leads into another abyss known as Murzyn's Back. From there, the space branches in several directions, with the main route running through a sloping section to a second shaft 22 metres deep. Further on, the system continues into a network of passages and abysses with names familiar from speleological exploration, such as the Candidate Shaft or the Black Bastion. The lowest point lies at a depth of 126 metres.

Natural conditions and research

Unlike many other karst caves, it does not have striking sinter formations or permanent water flows. A typical feature is the strong underground rain in the entrance section and in the Rain Hall. The cave is also a refuge for bats, confirming its importance from a nature conservation perspective as well. The openings had been known to mountain people long before professional exploration, and the first cavers descended into it in 1960. This was followed by the gradual discovery of the old floor, new chimneys, and deeper parts of the system.