Grotta di Ispinigoli

Grotta di Ispinigoli
(Ispinigoli Cave)

View of the cave
Map showing the location of Grotta di Ispinigoli (Ispinigoli Cave)

Location of the caves in Italy

Location Italy Ispinigoli, Dorgali
(NU, Sardinia, Italy)
Coordinates 40°19′12″N 9°36′1.2″E / 40.32000°N 9.600333°E / 40.32000; 9.600333Coordinates: 40°19′12″N 9°36′1.2″E / 40.32000°N 9.600333°E / 40.32000; 9.600333
Depth 35 m
Elevation 1,300 m
Discovery 1971
Geology Karst cave
Entrances 1
Access Public
Show cave opened 1974
Website Grotta di Ispinigoli

The Grotta di Ispinigoli is a karstic cave in the Supramonte massif, near Dorgali, Sardinia, Italy.

Overview

One of the largest grottoes in the island, houses a large stalactite-stalagmite compound, the tallest in Europe and one of the tallest in the world, measuring some 38 m in total. The grotto also include the so-called Abisso delle Vergini ("Abyss of the Virgins"), a c. 60 m-deep hole leading to a 12 km series of caves connecting Ispingoli to the other grotto of San Giovanni Su Anzu. Inside the cave were found traces of human bones and jewelry dating back the Bronze Age, the site was used as burial by the Nuragic Peoples.

At the bottom of this abyss cave the only known specimen of the extinct giant otter Megalenhydris was found. This animal is one of four species of extinct endemic otters on the island.

See also

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/21/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.