Orlova Chuka, Show cave in Dve Mogili, Bulgaria.
Orlova Chuka is a show cave in the Cherni Lom valley near Pepelina, Dve Mogili, north-eastern Bulgaria. Its galleries total 13,437 m, cut through Cretaceous limestone and limestone sandstone. The ceiling is smoothed into rounded forms by former underground eddies. Inside are the Concert Hall, the 3.5 m Big Stalagnate, the Little Chasm, the Golemite Sipei Hall and the sinter lake Izvorcheto.
The shepherd Stoyan Spasov discovered Orlova Chuka in 1941. It was opened to tourists in 1957, and in 1962 the cave and its adjoining 7.5 hectares were declared a natural landmark. In 1978 it was declared an archaeological monument of national importance.
The cave's name, Orlova Chuka (Eagle's Crag), refers to the rock above the entrance. The Concert Hall is one of the show cave's main sights, and the sinter lake Izvorcheto, with its white stalagmites, is another landmark inside.
The cave is open to visitors from 1 April to 1 November, 9:00 to 17:00. A steep path with built stairs leads up to the entrance, 40 m above the river level; the entrance terrace looks over the Rusenski Lom Nature Park. The temperature stays at about 14 °C all year, so bring a jacket. The Kosmicheska Hall and Pochivka Hall are not developed for visits.
The cave serves as a winter shelter for 14 bat species, including three that are listed as threatened species. This underground refuge is essential for protecting these rare animals during the cold months.
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