Ariadne Cave System, Natural cave system in Esztergom, Hungary.
The Ariadne Cave System is a natural network of interconnected chambers and passages located near Esztergom. The chambers display mineral formations including gypsum crystals, calcite deposits, and aragonite structures created over millennia by thermal water flows.
The cave was discovered in 1946 during quarrying operations. From 1958 onward, researchers under Benedek Endre systematically studied the system and documented its geological features.
The Benedek Endre Cave Explorer and Nature Conservation Association maintains the cave while conducting research and organizing educational tours for approximately 600 visitors annually.
Access is gained via a path approximately 1.5 kilometers from road 117. Experienced guides offer tours through the caves and ensure visitor safety throughout the passages.
A branch of the system was fully explored only in 2012, revealing particularly rich thermal water formations and mineral displays. This later discovery shows the cave system is larger and more complex than previously known.
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