Description of the Silicka ladnica Ice Cave

The Silicka ladnica Ice Cave represents a short section of the central part of large cave system based on the hydrologic system in a vadose zone. The underground stream Cierny potok (Black brook) is axis of this system. There is an unknown upper part of the cave system between the ponor Fararova jama and Silicka ladnica Ice Cave in length more 1.5 km. The Gombasecka Cave as an end of all system is situated up foot of the Silicka planina Plateau in altitude of 244 m a.s.l. The passages between the Silicka ladnica Ice Cave and the Gombasecka Cave are also unknown in length about 2 km.

The glacier in entrance chasm (57kB).

Entrance of the Silicka ladnica Ice Cave lies on 503 m above sea level. The impressive portal of the sheer passage is turned to the NNE. The passage inclined with angle about 30o has 30 m average width and 10 to 15 m height. The debris floor is covered by an ice (on picture) with a stately ice-chute in the bottom part of the passage. Genetically it is very young phenomenon, with origin in the roof falling down of the entrance portal around two thousand years ago. The Silicka ladnica Ice Cave is a classic static ice cave with three genetic types of the ice formations:

During the summer season the temperature of the ice surface is at about 0oC and the floor ice volume is reaching the minimal state (213 m3 measurement from the 1970). The maximum ice volume had been represented by the 340 m3 volume of the floor ice. In last years the significant decrease of the floor ice was observed.

A junction to warm parts of the cave goes through a debris layer into large Archaeological Dome (dimensions 60 x 35 x 10 m) with a rich primeval settlement. A short information about results of the archaeological investigation is placed on page Archaeology in the Silicka ladnica Ice Cave. The underground stream Cierny potok flows through the dome and continues by a sequence of the shallow siphons interrupted large domes. The manual digged corridor outflanks first and second siphons. Today only speleodivers can penetrate through next three siphons into domes the Africka chyza (African Shanty), the Hlinity dom (Clay Dome), the Dom Karina (50 x 30 x 40 m) and the Hribikovy dom (Mushroom Dome). The stream continues to the Gombasecka Cave through the unpenetrable wall of the fault massive stone blocks. The dripstone decoration is inexpressive but suggestive spaghetti stalactites can be found in the domes after the siphons. They say ...

SLOVAKIA CAVE SERVER prepared by Eduard Kladiva (Old Cave Dog) from Speleoclub CASSOVIA . Please send all comments, notes and corrections on e-mail kladiva@saske.sk.