Macocha Gorge, Pit cave in Moravian Karst, Czech Republic.
Macocha is a pit cave in Vilémovice, Czech Republic, reaching 138 meters deep into limestone formations and enclosed by vertical rock walls. The Punkva River runs through underground galleries at the bottom, which open upward to the ground surface.
Monks from the Minorite monastery descended with ropes in 1723 for the first time and documented the underground system. Over the course of the 19th century, parts of the cave system were opened to visitors and access was secured through paths and platforms.
The name comes from Czech and means stepmother, a term tied to an old legend. Many visitors know the story because it is told on signboards along the paths and forms a fixed part of the local storytelling tradition.
Two viewing platforms allow a look into the depths, with the upper one offering a complete overview of the abyss. Access is via prepared paths that are manageable for most visitors, though some sections involve steps.
Two lakes lie at the bottom of the cave, with the upper one reaching 13 meters and the lower one 49 meters in depth. The water is clear enough that you can see the bottom in parts of the upper lake, while the lower lake rests in complete darkness.
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