Gourgouthakas

Gourgouthakas
Location Greece
Coordinates 35°21′54″N 24°5′51″E / 35.36500°N 24.09750°E / 35.36500; 24.09750Coordinates: 35°21′54″N 24°5′51″E / 35.36500°N 24.09750°E / 35.36500; 24.09750[1]
Depth 1,208 metres (3,963 ft)
Discovery 1990
Entrances 1

Gourgouthakas (Greek: Γουργούθακας; from "small cutting on rocks, in which rain water is collected and from which animals drink water") is a cave located in the Lefka Ori mountains on the Greek island of Crete. It is the deepest cave in Greece, with an explored depth of 1,208 metres (3,963 ft), and is the 43rd deepest in the world.[2]

Gourgouthakas was discovered in 1990 by the Speleological Mission of the Catamaran team, based in Μontbeliard, France.[3] In 1998, the same group reached the small lake (sump) at the bottom, at a depth of 1,208 metres (3,963 ft).[1] The lake has not yet been explored.

The cave is primarily a deep vertical shaft, filled with intersecting arcades and huge stalagmites and stalactites.[3] Due to its configuration, specialized equipment and expertise is required to explore it.[1]

See also

List of caves in Greece

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Cave Gourgouthakas". Terrabook. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Gulden, Bob (21 September 2010). "Worlds deepest caves". National Speleological Society GEO2 Committee on long and deep caves. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  3. 1 2 "Gourgouthakas, the underground giant". cretazine. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
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