Hölloch Cave, Cave system in Muotathal, Switzerland.
Hölloch Cave is a cave system in Muotathal with passages extending through limestone formations to depths exceeding 1,000 meters beneath the valley. The network consists of numerous passages and chambers shaped by underground streams and natural processes over millions of years.
Scientific exploration began in 1875 under Alois Ulrich, followed by systematic mapping in the 1950s conducted by Alfred Bögli. These early investigations established the foundation for understanding this underground network.
The name Hölloch comes from German and means 'hell-hole' or 'slippery hole' in Swiss dialect, a reference that reflects the challenging conditions found within.
Visitors can join guided tours offering different difficulty levels and lasting from a few hours to several hours depending on the season. Sturdy footwear and warm clothing are essential, as the cave remains cool year-round.
The system held the title of world's longest cave until 1972 and remains the second longest in Europe with hundreds of kilometers of known passages. This scale makes it one of the continent's most significant underground labyrinths.
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