Vercors Cave System
Encyclopedia
The Vercors caves are a set of long, narrow cave
s situated in the Alps
, in South-Eastern France
. The caves are known for having the largest cave entrance in Europe.
area in the Rhône-Alpes
region, in the lower Alps.
, since the expedition led by Ken Pierce in the early 1960s introduced them to the area.
area in Europe. The caves are formed because of the Cretaceous
limestone
throughout the caves, that is up to 400 metres (1300 feet) thick at some points.
The caves passages are a mix of large, old and dry tunnels, full of calcite
deposits with narrow stream
ways and waterfalls.
There are specific sets of caves because of the geology of the area, each with their own characteristics. In the north east (from the Moucherolle up to the Sornin Plateaux) the caves are regarded as very deep and very demanding in the grading system
, especially considering the variable weather
in the area. In the north west of the system, the caves (including the Autrans
and Meaudre
systems) are of current interest, as many new caving
discoveries are being made, particularly in the Meaudre area, on a regular basis. Further south the caves vary in their characteristics, with systems in the Herbouilly Plateau being of different gradings. The area surrounding the Vernaison
and its associated river valley
contains many caves and systems, with one of the most explored being the Luire system just south of Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors
which is located at the Bournillion entrance, which is the largest cave entrance in Europe.
Probably the most famous and deepest cave in the region is the Gouffre Berger cave
. This cave includes the narrow shafts, descending into the Grand Galerie, which itself is home to very large and very old stalagmites. This particular system follows the slope of the limestone beds for 3 kilometres (1.9 mi), until it meets the flooded area of the Cuves de Sassenge.
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...
s situated in the Alps
The Alps
The Alps is a 2007 American documentary film about the climbing of the north face of the Eiger in the Bernese Alps by John Harlin III, son of John Harlin who died on the same ascent 40 years earlier...
, in South-Eastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The caves are known for having the largest cave entrance in Europe.
Location
The caves are located in the limestoneLimestone
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....
area in the Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes is one of the 27 regions of France, located on the eastern border of the country, towards the south. The region was named after the Rhône River and the Alps mountain range. Its capital, Lyon, is the second-largest metropolitan area in France after Paris...
region, in the lower Alps.
History
The caves are well known to British explorersExploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
, since the expedition led by Ken Pierce in the early 1960s introduced them to the area.
Description
The total area with the caves extends to around 400 square miles (1000 square kilometres) with a depth of up to 1271 metres (4170 feet). The surrounding area around the caves is the largest karstKARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
area in Europe. The caves are formed because of the Cretaceous
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
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....
throughout the caves, that is up to 400 metres (1300 feet) thick at some points.
The caves passages are a mix of large, old and dry tunnels, full of calcite
Calcite
Calcite is a carbonate mineral and the most stable polymorph of calcium carbonate . The other polymorphs are the minerals aragonite and vaterite. Aragonite will change to calcite at 380-470°C, and vaterite is even less stable.-Properties:...
deposits with narrow stream
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
ways and waterfalls.
There are specific sets of caves because of the geology of the area, each with their own characteristics. In the north east (from the Moucherolle up to the Sornin Plateaux) the caves are regarded as very deep and very demanding in the grading system
Cave survey
A cave survey is a map of all or part of a cave system, which may be produced to meet differing standards of accuracy depending on the cave conditions and equipment available underground. Cave surveying and cartography, i.e. the creation of an accurate, detailed map, is one of the most common...
, especially considering the variable weather
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
in the area. In the north west of the system, the caves (including the Autrans
Autrans
Autrans is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France.At the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, it hosted the biathlon, cross country skiing, nordic combined, and the ski jumping normal hill events.-Reference:...
and Meaudre
Méaudre
Méaudre is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France.It is located in the valley of the Vercors with ski opportunities.-See also:*Communes of the Isère department*Parc naturel régional du Vercors...
systems) are of current interest, as many new caving
Caving
Caving—also occasionally known as spelunking in the United States and potholing in the United Kingdom—is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems...
discoveries are being made, particularly in the Meaudre area, on a regular basis. Further south the caves vary in their characteristics, with systems in the Herbouilly Plateau being of different gradings. The area surrounding the Vernaison
Vernaison
Vernaison is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.-Geography:The city is located south of Lyon, on the right bank of the Rhône, facing several islands in the river.Inhabitants of Vernaison are called Vernaisonnais.-History:...
and its associated river valley
River Valley
River Valley is the name of an urban planning area within the Central Area, Singapore's central business district.The River Valley Planning Area is defined by the region bounded by Orchard Boulevard, Devonshire Road and Eber Road to the north, Oxley Rise and Mohamed Sultan Road to the east, Martin...
contains many caves and systems, with one of the most explored being the Luire system just south of Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors
Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors
Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*...
which is located at the Bournillion entrance, which is the largest cave entrance in Europe.
Probably the most famous and deepest cave in the region is the Gouffre Berger cave
Gouffre Berger
The Gouffre Berger is a French cave discovered on 24 May 1953, by Joseph Berger, Bouvet, Ruiz de Arcaute and Marc Jouffray. From 1953 to 1963, it was regarded as the deepest cave in the world at , relinquishing this title to the previous contender, Pierre Saint Martin in 1964, after further...
. This cave includes the narrow shafts, descending into the Grand Galerie, which itself is home to very large and very old stalagmites. This particular system follows the slope of the limestone beds for 3 kilometres (1.9 mi), until it meets the flooded area of the Cuves de Sassenge.