Krubera Cave

Krubera is a cave in the Arabika Massif in Georgia and one of the deepest cave systems on Earth. The interior consists of vertical shafts and winding passages that descend through hard limestone to reach depths beyond 2000 meters, while walls narrow into tight fissures or open into larger chambers throughout the network.

Georgian researchers discovered the cave in 1960 and named it after Alexander Kruber, who conducted geological work in the Caucasus during the early 20th century. In the following decades, international expeditions gradually pushed to greater depths and expanded knowledge of the underground network.

The cave system represents a paramount destination for speleologists worldwide, contributing greatly to the understanding of deep underground cave formations.

The entrance remains open only four months each year, as snow and difficult weather block access the rest of the time. Any descent requires specialized equipment for vertical sections and experienced guides with knowledge of the underground routes.

Researchers have documented twelve species of arthropods that live only in this cave system and have adapted to life at extreme depths. The temperature inside remains nearly constant at around 1 degree Celsius throughout the year, regardless of surface conditions.