Veryovkina Cave

Lore & Background

The Arabika Massif is a glacially eroded karst outcropping of the Gagra Range, composed of Lower Cretaceous and Upper Jurassic limestones that dip continuously southwest to the Black Sea and plunge below modern sea level. The area is densely wooded, with large areas of both coniferous forest and mixed woodland. The massif contains a number of remarkable caves, gorges, wells, and precipices, including the three deepest-measured caves in the world: Sarma Cave (1,830 m, 6,000 ft), Veryovkina Cave (2,209 m, 7,247 ft), and Voronya Cave (2,224 m, 7,297 ft). Alexander Kruber was the first to explore some of these features in 1909. According to Rebecca Felix, the Arabika's 'towering heights of limestone suggest the possibility of amazingly deep caves, boring the length of the massif and into the earth below its base.'

Reader's Guide

Veryovkina Cave is one of the three deepest-measured caves in the world, all located within the Arabika Massif. The massif's 13-km-long structure of Lower Cretaceous and Upper Jurassic limestones, dipping continuously to the Black Sea, creates the geological conditions for these extreme depths. Alexander Kruber first explored some of the massif's features in 1909. The cave's depth of 2,209 m (7,247 ft) places it among the deepest known, alongside Sarma Cave (1,830 m) and Voronya Cave (2,224 m). The source notes that the Arabika's limestone heights suggest the possibility of amazingly deep caves boring the length of the massif and into the earth below its base, as observed by Rebecca Felix.

Did You Know?

• Veryovkina Cave is one of the three deepest-measured caves in the world, all in the Arabika Massif.
• The Arabika Massif is a glacially eroded karst outcropping of the Gagra Range.
• Alexander Kruber first explored some of the massif's caves and features in 1909.
• The massif is composed of Lower Cretaceous and Upper Jurassic limestones that dip continuously southwest to the Black Sea.
• Rebecca Felix noted that the Arabika's 'towering heights of limestone suggest the possibility of amazingly deep caves.'