Cold Cave

Cold Cave, located in the Western Tatras near the Kościeliska Valley, is one of the few large horizontal caves, featuring numerous underground lakes and siphons. The lower entrance of the cave is situated at an altitude of 1,120 meters above sea level, while the upper entrance, known as White Cave, is at 1,260 meters. With a length of 5,420 meters and a denivelation of 176 meters, it ranks among the largest and deepest caves in the Polish Tatra Mountains. Discovered by the Zwoliński brothers in 1913, it was later explored by other expeditions that progressively uncovered new sections, including the Wrocław Parts and the Warsaw Divers' Siphon. Its structure consists of numerous passages, chambers, and distinctive speleothems such as stalactites and stalagmites. The cave is also an important habitat for bats, serving as one of the largest hibernation sites in the Tatras. The cave has also witnessed dangerous accidents. In 1958, during a dive in the Ogazy Siphon, one of the divers spent 45 hours on a rock ledge, leading to the siphon being named after him. In 1966, caver R. Lebecki also lost his life there. Despite its captivating surroundings, Cold Cave holds numerous dangers that have shaped its exploration history. Its rich speleothem formations and diverse rock structures attract not only cavers but also nature enthusiasts and tourists, making it a unique research and recreational area in Poland.