Alfelder Windloch, Natural monument cave in Alfeld, Germany
The Alfelder Windloch is a horizontal cave that runs through limestone formations, connecting several natural chambers and long passages. The entrance measures about 40 feet (12 meters) wide, while the whole system extends for considerable distances underground.
The first scientific description came from Johann Jakob Baier, a medical professor who studied the cave in the early 1700s. His documentation in the Oryctographia Norica introduced the site to a wider audience.
The name refers to the wind currents that emerge from the cave, which have captivated people for centuries. These natural air movements shaped local stories and made the place a source of curiosity and wonder for surrounding communities.
Access requires professional equipment and guided tours, as the passages are narrow and slippery. The site closes between October and April to protect the bat population that lives there.
The cave features several distinctly named sections like the Elephant Foot Hall and the Sand Hall, which visitors encounter as they navigate through the passages. A stone marked with R.I.P. serves as a landmark for one of the more complex routes through the system.
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