Demänovská Cave of Liberty

The show cave is situated in the right-hand slopes of Demänovská dolina Valley on the northern side of the Low Tatras National Park, in surroudings of town Liptovský Mikuláš. The cave is counted as the most beautiful and well-known limestone cave in Slovakia. It is proclaimed as National Nature Monument of Slovakia.
The underground system was formed in the Middle Triassic limestones by the underground river Demänovka. The complex labyrinth consists of horizontal corridors in four evolution levels and steep passages modelled by lateral tributaries infall. Numerous domes and undeground lakes with the rich dripstone decorations are charateristic for this cave. The length of all passages is about 8400 m but only 1800 m is accessible for the tourists. A duration of show tour takes about 60 minutes. The temperature in the cave is stable about 7 C. The cave is accessible in groups with experienced guides of cave management of state organization "Administration of Slovak Caves".

Sinter "water-lilies" and other lacustrine forms, as well as eccentric stalactites are unique among phenomena of sinter filling. Mighty sinter waterfalls and stalagnates, sphaerolithic stalactites and many other diverse forms of stalactites and stalagmites are captivating. An undeground river of Demänovka is running through cave to spring Vyvieranie in begins of Demänovská dolina valley. The waters of underground river are collected under the main crest of Low Tatra mountains in nonkarstic area. Some parts of river passages are unknown still.

The cave was discovered through a dry ponor of Demänovka in 1921 by Moravian teacher Alois Král. The name of cave - "Liberty Cave" or "Cave of Freedom" - mirrored a creation of new undependent country of Czechs and Slovaks in 1918-1919. The entrance parts of cave were first opened for the public since 1924, upper parts since 1933. The cave is only part of biggest cave system in Slovakia with 32 km of passages. A connection with the Pusta Cave was found in 1951, the siphons joined Cave of Liberty with Vyvieranie Cave were penetrated in 1983 by speleodivers of Slovak Speleological Society. In 1983 and 1987 the members of SSS discovered junctions to Cave of Peace after numerous unsuccessful attemps. A lot of small caves has interconnected to cave system and numerous are still uknown.
The bones of cave bears (Ursus spalaeus) were found in Medvedia Corridor. Until four species of bats have been observed in cave namely Myotis myotis and Rhinolophus hipposideros. Since 1993, the cave serves for speleotherapeutical procedures.

The Demänovská Ice Cave is second show cave in the valley. It was mentiond firstly in 1227. The ice decorations are main attraction of cave. Unfortunantely, in the winter the cave is closed for the public but the limestone canyon offers many great and spectacular views in the every season. The Speleological Museum in town Liptovský Mikulás has expoxitions concerned on the history, methods and results of cave explorations in Demänovská dolina Valley and all Slovakia. You can find more informations about caves in Demänovská dolina on the site of Administration of Slovak Caves or on the Liptov Travel pages.