Beneath our feet lies Grotta del Ginepro 2°. It is a hidden world waiting to be explored. This isn’t just any cave. Grotta del Ginepro 2° offers a glimpse into the earth’s mysteries.
Grotta del Ginepro 2° is catalog number 3236. Locally it’s known as 5075VG. There is only one entrance. It was mapped using GPS in 2001. The GPS method used was differential.
Imagine standing at the entrance. A juniper bush marks the spot. This is how Grotta del Ginepro 2° got its name. The altitude here is 299 meters above sea level.
The cave extends 50 meters horizontally. Its depth reaches 58 meters. The bottom sits at 241 meters above sea level.
To reach Grotta del Ginepro 2°, head NNW from the Percedol basin. Go about 500 meters. The opening sits on the edge of a vast sinkhole.
Let’s venture inside Grotta del Ginepro 2°. From the base of the entrance shaft, a calcified slope descends. It stretches a little over 10 meters. The slope angles downward at 30 degrees. Above, the ceiling reaches about 4 meters high. Many stalactites decorate the space. The floor is covered in debris. Splash concretions cement the debris together.
Further in, among fallen rocks, stands a large stalagmite. Its top is strikingly white. At its base, tiny pools of crystal-clear water have formed.
To the left, two low passages lead to a single chamber. It’s wide but cramped. You must crawl through mud and puddles to pass. Beyond lies an inner shaft. It plunges 31 meters deep. A very white calcareous flow marks its top.
Near the bottom, a large landslide almost blocks the shaft. A narrow gap between the rocks allows passage. But another calcified landslide stops further progress. Above the first landslide, a fissure emits a faint air current. This suggests a possible continuation of Grotta del Ginepro 2°.
Returning to the initial slope, a short branch extends to the left. From the base of the entrance shaft, another branch heads west. A short climb leads to this upper section. It ends in a spacious terrace. This area is richly decorated with concretions.
From here, a tight passage between stalagmite columns leads to a slide. It inclines at about 30 degrees. Flower-like concretions make it awkward. The slide ends in a small cave. It measures 4 meters long and equally high. At the base of the slide, a lone stalagmite rises from the clay floor. It’s about 1 meter tall. The walls show wide potholes and old levels of sediment. These are signs of past water and mud levels within Grotta del Ginepro 2°.
Interestingly, fragments of ox horn were found in the first part of the descending branch. In the upper branch’s small cave, a fossilized weasel skull was discovered.
Grotta del Ginepro 2° is more than just a cave. It’s a time capsule. It’s a testament to the slow work of water and time.