Siebenhengste-Hohgant-Höhle
Encyclopedia
Siebenhengste-Hohgant
-Höhle is a cave
located in Switzerland
, in the canton of Bern at the north of the Lake of Thun, between the villages of Eriz
and Habkern
. The cave network is developed in the Urgonian limestone
formation (Aptian age
).
The cave was first explored in 1966 by the Club Jurassien, a speleology club from La Chaux-de-Fonds
in the canton of Neuchâtel
, Switzerland, when three of its 34 entrances were discovered. Explorations were later undertaken by the Speleo Club des Montagnes Neuchâteloises (SCMN), as well as several Belgian caving clubs.
In 1975-76, the Groupement Interclub de Perfectionnement à la Spélélogie (GIPS) from Brussels joined the exploration of the underground network. The Centre Routier de Spéléo (CRS) (Brussels) also participated to the discovery of the deep zone (T2) while the Spéléo Club de l'Université Catholique de Louvain
(SCUCL) contributed to the continuation of the explorations and survey of the deep zone.
In 2010 it was the world's 11th longest cave, with a 154-km development. It is also the world's 22nd deepest cave with 1 340 m deep.
Hohgant
Hohgant is a mountain in the Bernese Alps, located in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland.Several caves developing in the Urgonian limestone formation have their entrances on the Hohgant mountain. The F1 cave is connected to the Siebenhengste cave network.-External links:*...
-Höhle is a cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
located in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, in the canton of Bern at the north of the Lake of Thun, between the villages of Eriz
Eriz
Eriz is a municipality in the administrative district of Thun in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Eriz has an area, , of . Of this area, or 45.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 44.9% is forested...
and Habkern
Habkern
Habkern is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Origin of the name:The name Habkern comes from the Old High German word habuh and the ending -arra, indicating that something is in large numbers. Habkern is thus "the place where...
. The cave network is developed in the Urgonian limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
formation (Aptian age
Aptian
The Aptian is an age in the geologic timescale or a stage in the stratigraphic column. It is a subdivision of the Early or Lower Cretaceous epoch or series and encompasses the time from 125.0 ± 1.0 Ma to 112.0 ± 1.0 Ma , approximately...
).
The cave was first explored in 1966 by the Club Jurassien, a speleology club from La Chaux-de-Fonds
La Chaux-de-Fonds
La Chaux-de-Fonds is a Swiss city of the district of La Chaux-de-Fonds in the canton of Neuchâtel. It is located in the Jura mountains at an altitude of 1000 m, a few kilometres from the French border. After Geneva and Lausanne, it is the third largest city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of...
in the canton of Neuchâtel
Canton of Neuchâtel
Neuchâtel is a canton of French speaking western Switzerland. In 2007, its population was 169,782 of which 39,654 were foreigners. The capital is Neuchâtel.-History:...
, Switzerland, when three of its 34 entrances were discovered. Explorations were later undertaken by the Speleo Club des Montagnes Neuchâteloises (SCMN), as well as several Belgian caving clubs.
In 1975-76, the Groupement Interclub de Perfectionnement à la Spélélogie (GIPS) from Brussels joined the exploration of the underground network. The Centre Routier de Spéléo (CRS) (Brussels) also participated to the discovery of the deep zone (T2) while the Spéléo Club de l'Université Catholique de Louvain
Université catholique de Louvain
The Université catholique de Louvain, sometimes known, especially in Belgium, as UCL, is Belgium's largest French-speaking university. It is located in Louvain-la-Neuve and in Brussels...
(SCUCL) contributed to the continuation of the explorations and survey of the deep zone.
In 2010 it was the world's 11th longest cave, with a 154-km development. It is also the world's 22nd deepest cave with 1 340 m deep.