Cave of Angitis, Archaeological show cave in Prosotsani Municipality, Greece
The Cave of Angitis (Maaras) opens 500 m from the village of Angitis, 25 km northwest of Drama. The Angitis river flows along its floor and emerges from the mountain; the show section runs about 500 m on a metal walkway with railings and lamps. The ceiling hangs with stalactites, while thick stalagmites and columns rise on the right.
A small part of the cave at the river's exit was known since antiquity. Archaeological research in the area has yielded many finds, including a mammoth tusk kept in the Archaeological Museum of Drama. The cave has been developed and open to visitors since 2001.
The cave is also called Maaras, a name traced either to Arabic for a small cave or to Hebrew for water from the mountain. A small part at the river's exit was known since antiquity, and a mammoth tusk found nearby is kept in the Archaeological Museum of Drama.
Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and prepare for uneven ground and narrow passages, especially during the wetter winter months. The best time to visit is late spring through early autumn, when underground conditions are more comfortable.
In 2002, explorers found a translucent crayfish, Austropotamobius torrentium, 7,100 metres from the entrance, and a fish, the briana, at 6,500 metres. Reports also mention colourless fish in the underground river. The mammoth tusk found nearby is kept in the Archaeological Museum of Drama.
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