The list caves in Bulgaria, as of 2002, includes around 4,500 underground formations.[1] The earliest written records about the caves in Bulgaria are found in the manuscripts of the 17th century Bulgarian National Revival figure and historian Petar Bogdan. The first Bulgarian speleological society was established in 1929. The caves in the country are inhabited by more than 700 invertebrate species, many of them endemic, and 32 of the 37 species of bats found in Europe.
The longest caves in Bulgaria are Kolkina Dupka (19,164 m), Duhlata (18,200 m) and Orlova Chuka (13,437 m). The first show cave is Bacho Kiro, inaugurated in 1937. Nowadays, there are 10 tourist caves accessible to the public for guided visits in Bulgaria.
Devetashka cave is situated on the east bank of the river Osam in the pre-Balkan area near the village of Devetaki, Lovech Province at around 7 km east of Letnitsa and 15 km north-east of Lovech. The cave used to be a secret military site. The site was used for filming The Expendables 2.[4] Listed in the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria under No. 30.[5]
Duhlata is situated in the south-western part of the Vitosha mountain range on the left bank of the river Struma near the village of Bosnek, Pernik Province. It is the longest cave in Bulgaria reaching 18,200 m. Duhlata is home to 22 known animal taxa, including six bat species.[9]
Kolkina Dupka is situated in the western Balkan Mountains near the village of Zimevitsa, Sofia Province. As of 2018 it has a depth of -541 m, making it the deepest cave in Bulgaria; the explored galleries reach 10,300 m, placing it third in the country. Exploration is still ongoing.[10][11]
Kozarnika is situated on the northern slopes of the western Balkan Mountains at 6 km from the town of Belogradchik, Vidin Province. It is an important archaeological site and was used as a shelter early humans 1.6 million years ago.[13]
Ledenika is situated in the western Balkan Mountains at 16 km from the city of Vratsa, Vratsa Province. It features an abundance of galleries and impressive karst formations including stalactites and stalagmites, and is known to contain icicles. Ledenika falls within the territory of Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park. Listed in the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria under No. 16.[15]
Lepenitsa is situated in the western Rhodope Mountains, at 17 km south of the town Rakitovo, Pazardzhik Province. It was three levels with numerous cave formations and features, including an underground river and sinter lakes. Lepenitsa has a rich fauna, including four species endemic to the cave. Listed in the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria under No. 55A.[17][18][19]
Magura is situated on the northern slopes of the western Balkan Mountains near the village of Rabisha, Vidin Province. It contains prehistoric wall painting dated between 10,000 and 8,000 years ago. In 1984 the site was induced into UNESCO's World Heritage Sites tentative list.[21] Listed in the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria under No. 14.[22]
Orlova Chuka is situated on the left slopes of the Cherni Lom river valley. It is located at 11 km to the east of the town of Dve Mogili and 3 km to north of the village of Pepelina, Ruse Province. The entrance terrace provides a scenic overlook of Rusenski Lom Nature Park and the rock formations of the river valley. Orlova Chuka is the second longest cave in Bulgaria.[24]
Prohodna is situated in the pre-Balkan area in the Karlukovo Gorge of the Iskar River. It is located near the village of Karlukovo, Lovech Province. It is part of the Iskar-Panega Geopark and is most notable for the two equal-sized holes in the ceiling of its middle chamber, resembling eyes. The cave is featured in several movies, including the 1988 Time of Violence.[26]
Raychova Dupka is situated on the northern slopes of the central Balkan Mountains within Steneto Reserve in Central Balkan National Park. The nearest settlement of the village of Cherni Osam, Lovech Province. Reaching depth of -377 m, it is the second deepest cave discovered in Bulgaria.[28]
Razhishka Cave is situated in the western Balkan Mountains overlooking the left bank of the Iskar River in the homonymous gorge at a height of 140 m over the river. It is located near the village of Milanovo, Sofia Province. It was inhabited by humans during the Iron Age.
Saeva dupka is situated in the pre-Balkan area near the village of Brestnitsa, Lovech Province. It was desclared a natural landmark in 1963. Listed in the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria under No. 33.[30]
Snezhanka is situated in the western Rhodope Mountains in the valley of Stara Reka river at some 5 km from the town of Peshtera, Pazardzhik Province. The cave is rich in stalactites, stalagmites, draperies and sinter lakes. Listed in the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria under No. 37.[32]
Temnata Dupka is situated in the western Balkan Mountains overlooking the left bank of the Iskar River in the homonymous gorge. It is located near the villages of Milanovo and Gara Lakatnik, Sofia Province. It was declared a national landmark in 1962 and falls within the territory of Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park.[34][35]
Uhlovitsa is situated in the western Rhodope Mountains near the village of Mogilitsa, Smolyan Province. The cave features many underground waterfalls and lakes. Listed in the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria under No. 84.[37]
Venetsa is situated in the western Balkan Mountains, at 14 km to the east of the town of Belogradchik and 3 km to the south of the village of Gara Oreshets, Vidin Province. It was opened for tourists in 2015 and is the most recently inaugurated show cave in Bulgaria.
Yagodinska Cave is situated in the western Rhodope Mountains in the Buynovo Gorge near the village of Yagodina, Smolyan Province. It is the longest cave in the Rhodope Mountains and contains a very large number of cave formations, including the rare cave pearls. Listed in the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria under No. 89.[40]
Zandana, also known as Biserna, is the largest cave in the Shumen Plateau within Shumen Plateau Nature Park. It is situated at 1 km west from the city of Shumen, Shumen Province. The cave has two levels, with a river flowing though the lower level. It is rich in cave formation and in 2019 800 m of its passages were adapted as a show cave open to visitors. There are 14 bat species.[42]
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