Discovered in 1947, the Abisso Silvano Zulla is not just any cave. It’s a journey into the depths of the Earth, a place where history and adventure intertwine. We are standing at the entrance of the Abisso Silvano Zulla. It is located in the Carso Triestino area near Trieste.
The Gruppo Escursionistico E. Comici first explored it. They ventured down to a cavern at about 200 meters. There, they found an impassable fissure marking the last shaft. This significant cave was named after Silvano Zulla. He was a speleologist and member of the Nucleo Rastrellatori. Tragically, he died in an explosion of war remnants.
Look closely. The cave’s entrance is rather small. It opens almost at the bottom of a sinkhole. The first shaft has a narrow section. It leads into a concretion filled space. Here, another deeper drop begins. This widens like a bell. A short climb from its base leads to the great inner shaft.
After a narrow start, it suddenly expands. It becomes a vast elongated chamber. Its boundaries are not always visible. Numerous natural bridges are at varying heights. During rainy periods a remarkable waterfall forms in this grand shaft. The water comes from the sinkhole above. It acts as a drain. The water flows down the shafts and disappears. It vanishes into an impenetrable fissure at the end of a short meander. This marks the cave’s terminus.
Attempts to force this final passage have been unsuccessful. They hoped to discover deeper chambers. This cave holds a tragic history. In 1949, a young speleologist named Carlo Debeljak died here. He was struck by a boulder. It fell in the second shaft.
The Abisso Silvano Zulla has been updated in 2017. Explorers investigated the entire 100-meter shaft. They used pendulums and reached several openings. These openings always led back to the main shaft. There are narrow and unstable parallel shafts. Below the subsequent shaft a climb was made. It allowed descent into a parallel shaft. Just before its end, an opening leads to a small chamber. A narrow meander is also there. It was tested for excavation. This was due to the small amount of air flowing out.
The Abisso Silvano Zulla has a depth of 206 meters. Its planimetric development is 42 meters. The cave floor is 100 meters above sea level. The entrance sits at 306 meters above sea level. This predominantly vertical cave presents unique challenges.
In 1990, the telai of two motorini were reported in the Abisso Silvano Zulla. In June 2017, speleologists from the Club Alpinistico Triestino recovered them. They also removed steel cable fragments and road debris. This addressed safety concerns and reduced environmental impact.
Remember the name Silvano Zulla. Think about the explorers. Consider the fragility of life and the enduring allure of the unknown. The Abisso Silvano Zulla stands as a testament. It honors courage, exploration, and the profound depths that lie beneath our feet.