Falkensteiner Cave, Cave system in Swabian Alps, Germany
Falkensteiner Cave is a karst cave system in the Swabian Alps through which the Elsach River flows. The underground network extends over four kilometers in length and forms passages, chambers and fissures in the limestone.
Between 1770 and 1830, miners searched the system for gold deposits and created the first maps of the passages. These explorations marked the beginning of systematic study of the underground network.
The name comes from Falkenstein, a rock formation above the entrance where eagle owls once nested. These large birds gave the site its character and later appeared in stories by writer Christian David Friedrich Weinland.
The first 490 feet (150 meters) are walkable during summer months, but you need rubber boots and two flashlights because of the water and darkness. Deeper sections require experience and equipment for challenging conditions in the river.
During heavy rainfall, the water level rises quickly and the entrance turns into a waterfall when the system overflows. This natural spectacle shows the power of the underground river within the limestone formations.
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