Стол в спелеолагере
The place
Table and shelter of the speleology camp set at 2307 m on the Arabika karst plateau, in the Abkhazian Western Caucasus massif. Located at the heart of one of the most extreme caving sites in the world: the plateau hosts the Veryovkina Cave (officially the deepest on the planet without drilling, at -2212 m) and the Krubera-Voronya Cave (the world's deepest at about -2200 m). The camp has been used for years by international expeditions exploring the Ilyukhin system and the other giant shafts of the Arabika. Classic approach from Gantiadi-Tsandripsh on the coast, via the Khashupse river canyon then the climb to the plateau (8 days, 80 km), with a mandatory stop at the speleocamp near the Ilyukhin cave for acclimatisation. A mineral karst high-altitude setting, canvas shelters and demountable expedition structures, in a world of sheer abysses of the western Caucasus.
Getting there
From Gantiadi-Tsandripsh via the Khashupse canyon (~8 days, 80 km). Mandatory acclimatisation at the Ilyukhin speleocamp.
The setting
Arabika karst plateau (Abkhazia), Veryovkina (-2212 m) and Krubera-Voronya (-2200 m) caves.
