Dziura, Limestone cave in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland
Dziura is a limestone cave in the Lesser Poland region of southern Poland, with two entrances, one of which opens through the ceiling of the passage. The main passage runs about 590 feet (175 meters) and has a floor covered with clay, stone debris, and decomposing beech leaves.
Written accounts show that local residents were already visiting the cave in the first half of the 19th century. Folk stories from the area say it was used for a time as a hiding place by a man named Wojtek Mateja.
The name means simply "hole" in Polish, referring to the opening in the ceiling that lets daylight into the passage. Visitors walking through can still notice marks left in the soft clay floor by earlier explorers over the years.
Sturdy footwear and two light sources are strongly recommended, as the ground is uneven and the clay can be slippery. Moving slowly and watching for stones and roots along the floor makes the walk through much safer.
The ceiling opening that gives the cave its name lets a narrow beam of light fall deep into an otherwise dark passage on certain days. This effect is most noticeable when the sun is high and the rest of the tunnel is in full darkness.
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