Baskunchakskaya cave is the largest cave of the Northern Caspian. It is located in the Astrakhan region on the northwestern shore of Lake Baskunchak in the Peshchernaya beam and has three main entrances that have long been considered independent caves: Bolshaya Baskunchakskaya, Malaya Baskunchakskaya and Sukhaya. The cave has been actively visited by people for a long time and is one of the attractions of the Akhtuba region. The authorities and the church regularly arrange excursions.
| Baskunchak cave | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Specifications | |
| Depth | 32 m |
| Length | 1480 m |
| Volume | 9400 m³ |
| Type of | karst |
| Enclosing rocks | gypsum |
| Number of inputs | 3 |
| Location | |
| A country |
|
| The subject of the Russian Federation | Astrakhan region |
History
On the walls of the cave there are various inscriptions, the oldest of which date from 1874, 1909, 1911. That is, it has been known for over 100 years. The first cave for 350 m was examined and described in the 40s of the last century by the teacher of the University of Saratov A. D. Gedeonov. Since 1979, members of the Saratov speleological section have been studying the cave for more than 20 years [Belonovich, Tsoy 2004: 21]. They were the first to connect three caves, which were previously considered independent, carried out a large amount of research work, performed a detailed topographic survey of the cave. In 1986, the caving section was joined by the speleology and karstology section of the Astrakhan branch of the Russian Geographical Society, which continues its research to the present [Golovachev 2010: 27].
Geological characteristics
Baskunchakskaya cave is embedded in Perm gypsum of the Kungurian stage, raised to the surface by processes of salt tectonics. The cave belongs to the corrosion-erosion type of karst caves. It is developed along a vertical crack of a submeridional direction. The cave has a diverse underground relief and consists of sections of varying difficulty. In addition to the narrownesses, the cave has wide areas accessible for mass visits. According to A. V. Belonovich [Belonovich, Tsoy 2004: 21], the cave has the following basic morphometric parameters: length - 1480 m, depth from the level of the surface - 32 m, volume - about 9400 m³. In general, the cave is dry and represents the dry-gallery stage of its development. The cave has a freshwater underground lake with an area of about 10 m².
Baskunchakskaya cave has three main entrances and one impassable. It refers to the type of horizontal through (cave) caves. Since 1993, the cave has been part of the regional state natural reserve Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky. At present, the ecological condition of the cave is satisfactory, despite its active visit.
Literature
- Golovachev I.V. Baskunchakskaya cave / I.V. Golovachev // Speleology and spelestology. The collection of materials of the 2nd international scientific correspondence conference. - Naberezhnye Chelny: NISPR, 2011 .-- S. 9-13.