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Camp of the Balkans “ Balkan’2007” Contributed by Anonymousz on Sunday, April 22 @ 15:08:16 EEST
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 The Bulgarian Federation of Speleology and Balkan Speleological Union have the pleasure to invite all the cavers and speleologists from the Balkan countries to take part in the First Cavers’ Camp of the Balkans “ Balkan’2007”
Period
The Camp will take place from 28 June to 1 July 2007
Arrival – 27 June 2007, Wednesday.
Opening of the Camp – 28 June 2007.
Camp Activites – 28 June-1 July 2007.
Departure – afternoon of 1 July 2007
Place
Teshell Vill. Smolyan District, Rhodope Mt., central part of South Bulgaria.
The Rhodope Mountains
Located along the Bulgarian-Greek border, the Rhodope Mountains covered an area of 18 000 km2. 80% of their territory - 14 737 km2, falls into the boundaries of Bulgaria. Being part of the large Macedonian-Thracian Mountain Massif, the Rhodope Mountains are geographically divided into two parts - the Western and the Eastern Rhodopes.
The West side of the mountain is one of the most beautiful massifs on the Balkan Peninsula. The highest peak is Golyam Perelik – 2149m, followed by Persenk.
The mountain is formed by three types of rocks:
• Sedimental – breccias, conglomerates, sandstones, limestone;
• Metamorphic – gneiss, slate, amphibolites and marbles;
• Volcanic / Magma – South-Bulgarian granites from the Paleozoic period and Oligocene volcanic riolites;
The carbonate rocks together with the litho-tectonic and physic-geographic conditions are a prerequisite for the development of different surface and ground layers.
The Karst in the Rhodopes is isolated in seven karst regions, explored in over 800 caves and pot holes. You can find here one of the longest and deepest caves in Bulgaria. Traces of extinct fauna species (Pleistocene vertebrate fauna) have been found in these caves, as well as prehistoric findings from the stone-copper age (V-IV millennium B.C.). In the local cave fauna are found several new animal species for the World.
Museum of the Rhodope Karst
In 1967 Dimitar Raitchev organizes in Chepelare the first cave museum collection in Bulgaria, which in 1981 becomes a Museum of the Rhodope Karst. Dimitar Raitchev was born on 28 February 1922 in Chepelare. In 1950 he organizes Speleology group. From 1962 the group is transformed into a Speleology club. He is the initiator of the development of the Rhodope caves. He sets up the Cave Museum and the Museum of Ski sport in Chepelare.
As a result of 50 years of hard work the Cave Museum of the Rhodope Karst treasures over 14 000 exhibits. The Exhibition covers 480 m2 and is divided in nine theme sections: Geology; Mineralogy; Petrography; Surface karst; Secondary karst forms; Biospeleology; Cave paleontology; Cave archeology and Cave protection.
The Museum displays all kinds of exhibits from the diverse speleological activities. The Museum stocks keep different in types and themes filing cases.
Thanks of the activity of the cavers from Chepelare, the cave tourism is developing rapidly in the Rhodope Mountains. Numerous hikers can visit three well-developed caves in the region.
Sights of cave tourism and caving
Chudnite mostove (The Miracle Bridges)
They are situated 82km south from Plovdiv and 35km northwest from Chepelare near by the Zabardo vill. These are two rock bridges, which still fascinate people with their grandeur. The first bridge is 65m high at its arch, and the rock is 21m thick, which makes a total height of 86m. The second bridge is smaller in size.
“The Miracle Bridges” are among the most curious natural phenomena of the Rhodopes. By destructing an ancient cave, the water carried away the rocks, which had fallen and as a result two marble bridges of rare beauty were formed side by side.
Trigrad gorge and The Devil’s Throat
Total length - 7km, actual length of the Trigrad gorge is 2km. Steep rocks and wreaths dotted the openings of caves. Lone pine trees rise on the inaccessible rocks. The climate here changes every hour. In the early morning, while the foothills are still shrouded in dark, day is already breaking up on the bare hills of the stone giants. Slowly, but surely, down spreads, tearing apart the dark guise of the gorge - gliding down along the ledges and steps, descending lower and lower, bringing the abyss back of life. The age-old creased rock loses its terrifying appearance and turns into an enchanted castle with marble lace, many windows and battle towers.
At the base of the sheer rock lies the entrance to the so-called cave Devil’s Throat. An artificial gallery leads the visitors inside. At first only the sight coolness tells you that you are underground. A few more steps down and the details emerge - the largest hall reflects the dark blue waters of the Trigrad river, shrouded by gleaming fog, caused by the subterranean waterfall. The cave is a national reserve park since 1962. Situation: 62km west from Chepelare and 26km south from Devin. The Trigrad gorge is 7km long; on the 300m high rocks a special calcium and endemic flora grow – the Haberlea Rhdopensis and Siderites Scardia. The fauna is also diverse. One can see here rock eagles and falcons, the gravedigger raven, the dappled and the black woodpecker. The ancient forest is dwelt by the deer and buck, wolves and bears, the wood grouse and owls and many more fauna species. In the clear waters breeds the Balkan and American trout. East of the village of Trigrad are the be
autiful slide lakes of Chaira, where the Alpine triton and the carp live. The Trigrad Gorge hosts the miraculous karst phenomenon “The Devil’s Throat”. Its history of exploration is short. The Bulgarian mountaineers Nikolai Korchev and Elena Podareva do the first penetration in 1962. Using an alpine railing they reach the great hall and continue 100m down the river stream. The lack of modern alpine equipment prevents them from further penetrating into the cave. In 1967 cavers from Chepelare and the Speleoclub “Studenetz” make a second attempt. The members of the team are Dimitar Raitchev, Stefan Ivanov, Slaveiko Djubrov and Margarita Kirova. They reach almost the same point as the first expedition. In 1970 a national cave expedition takes place and an attempt is made to overcome the siphons using scuba diving technique. The attempt is tragic as two of the cave divers from Varna find their death. They are Siana Lyuzkanova and Evstati Jovchev. In 1981 a second scuba diving att
empt to overcome the siphon part is done, which is again unsuccessful due to the high muddiness of the water.
The development of the cave as a tourist sight begins in 1971 under the initiation of Dimiter Raitchev. He designs a special program for the development of “The Devil’s Throat” and the nearby “Jagodina cave”. The visitors are able to enjoy this ground phenomenon by going down some 300 steps and using artificially built galleries. Years later, in 1996, the iron railings are replaced by concrete ones and the funds have been raised by the British Embassy. ”The Devil’s Throat” is 470m in height, and the ground waterfall is 45m deep. The cave is dwelt by a colony of bats. After passing the Great Hall, the siphon part can be reached. Who or when named the cave “The Devil’s Throat” is unknown. The old name of the cave is known to be Ahorlakimeto and it is of Arabic origin, which literally means, “boiling pot”. An old legend says that the ancient Thracians have thrown their chiefs down the gorge to beg mercy from their Gods.
The Jagodinska Cave
The Jagodinska Cave is situated 16km south from Devin, and 10km. west from Trigrad-along the valley of the Buinovska River – west Rhodopes.The speleoclub in Chepelare start explorations in 1965-1966, led by Dimitar Raitchev. The club members map the Jagodina cave system and make some archeological diggings, discovering a Chalcolithic dwelling. New galleries and tunnels have been discovered and the length of the cave now reaches 8501m. Georgi Raitchev and the “Studenetz” Speleoclub do the mappings. At the entry of the cave a Prehistoric dwelling is found – a kind of local ceramics center where are found ceramic pots, tools, burnt wheat, ceramic oven, primitive grinders - millstone dating 4000 B.C. They now can be seen at the museum exhibition. The Jagodinska Cave is developed on four main and two secondary morphological levels. The main karst forming rock is the marble. The cave also is interesting with its diverse secondary karst forms - stalactites, stalagmites and cave pear
ls. The tourist path is 1600m long and has two artificial ground tunnels. The preparation of the tourist part of Jagodina Cave starts in 1969 and its officially opening for visitors is in 1983.
The plan of Yagodinska cave
The longest and deepest caves in Western Rhodopes
Name of the cave Location Length Depth
Yagodinskata Peshtera Yagodina Village 8501 60
Lednitsata Gela Village 1419 108
Izvora Orpheus Hut 2480 -
Drangaleshkata Mugla Village 1142 255
Êàmbankite Chamla Village - 158
Dyavolskoto Gârlo Trigrad Village 300 85
Sanchova Dupka Yagodina Village 888 12
Haramiyskata Trigrad Village 495 48
The Preliminary Program of the Camp offers:
Cave visits:
• The tourist and wild passages of Yagodinskata peshtera with the Prehistoric Dwelling;
• Dyavolskoto garlo (Devils’ Throat tourist cave);
• Haramiyskata dupka with the Neolithic Dwelling;
• Sanchova dupka;
• Eminova dupka;
Necessary equipment : individual caving equipment for caves and potholes.
Multimedia presentations of national speleology of each country, or separate caving club;
General Assembly of the Balkan Speleological Union,
Cultural Events:
• Visit the Museum of Speleology and Rhodope Karst - Chepelare;
• Enjoy a Concert of Bulgarian Traditional Music;
• Visit the Local Museum of Devin Municipality;
• A Farewell Party;
And you will have the opportunity to see and buy local traditional souvenirs and to taste traditional food of the Rhodopes!
You will have the chance to buy caving gear at a discount!
.Accommodation
1. In personal tents for free;
2. In the Tourist Hut for the price of 4 Euro (8 Bulgarian Leva) per night
Meals
The organizers offer meals:
- breakfast & supper/dinner for the price of 4 Euro (8 Bulgarian Leva) daily;
- There is an opportunity to buy drinks and food separately.
How to reach Teshel?
When you come to Bulgaria, you should take a bus or train from Sofia to the city of Plovdiv, South Bulgaria.
>From there you have to look for a bus to the town of Devin.
The distance between Devin and Teshel is only 13 km. You can go there by bus or taxi! The best way to reach the place of the Camp is your own vehicle!
In case, that we receive enough applications for participation, we could provide the transportation of the cavers from Devin to the place of the Camp. That is why, please, do not hesitate and express your will for participation on time!
Distance from place to place:
Russe- Plovdiv- 274 km.;
Svilengrad-Plovdiv – 141 km;
Sofia-Plovdiv – 149 km.;
Gotze Delchev - Devin (the easier way to reach the place from Greece is via Kato Nevrokopi, Drama District);
Plovdiv – Pamporovo via Chepelare – 75 km; Pamporovo – Devin – 31 km.
Train and bus timetable
• Trains from Sofia Central Railway Station to Plovdiv:
8.30; 10.30; 13.30 h
• Buses from Sofia Central Bus Station to Plovdiv:
Every 1 hour (the first bus is in 7 a.m.) (price 10 Leva)
• Buses from Plovdiv Bus Station Rhodopi to Devin (price 7 leva):
14.30; 16.30h
• Buses from Plovdiv Bus Station Rhodopi to Borino vill. via Teshel vill. where is the place of the Camp:
13.00, 17.30h
• Buses from Devin to Teshell vill.:
8.40;12.00;16.00;20.30
.Applications
Please inform us about your interest to take part in the Camp by making application in “Contact us” panel in the web of the Camp: http://www.speleo-balkan.dir.bg . You can do this by using free text, but you must indicate your intention to make multimedia presentations , its title and duration . The cavers from the countries outside the European Union should add to their application the number and date of issue of their international passport. This is necessary for preparing of an official invitation, which will make easier the visa procedures for Bulgaria!
The deadline for application is 14 May 2007!
You can make àn application on :
http://www.speleo-balkan.dir.bg or in e-mails: bfs@abv.bg or alex@speleo-bg.com
Do not hesitate to contact us for more information!
WELCOME TO BULGARIA AND BULGARIAN CAVES !
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