“Maledetta!” a local once exclaimed about the difficult terrain. He was trying to reach this very spot where we now stand. This is Jama Dovrebrih also known as Fovea Maledetta. Its name translates to “Cursed Pit”.
Jama Dovrebrih earned its ominous name honestly. Early explorers from the Club Touristi Triestini cursed the rugged landscape. They had to traverse it to reach this abyss.
Now imagine yourself as one of those early explorers. You are struggling through the harsh terrain of the Carso Triestino. Finally you arrive. Before you yawns a massive opening approximately 20 by 30 meters.
Look down into Jama Dovrebrih. Just a few meters below the surface, a natural bridge spans the opening. It connects moss-covered walls. The entrance shaft is elongated. It measures about 15 by 40 meters.
As you descend deeper into Jama Dovrebrih the walls narrow. At a depth of about 60 meters, you will find a wide, sloping canal. This canal is partially filled with debris of various sizes. The canal leads to a vertical drop below.
The vertical shaft is complex. It has a very irregular section. About 40 meters from the bottom, another huge natural bridge divides the space.
At the base of this 130-meter-deep shaft, there is a slope of debris. It ends on a clay shelf. In some side caves, concretions are abundant. They even coat the ground.
Levels on the walls show that this area sometimes floods. There is speculation about a connection to groundwater. Some visitors reported a strong draft. This happened during heavy rains. The calcareous rubble covering the bottom allowed air to filter through.
It is possible that debris hides a passage to deeper chambers. Given the low elevation of the bottom, these chambers might reach the base level. This is similar to the nearby Abisso dei Cristalli. There, signs of flooding are even more evident.
Beyond the upper bridge, a parallel shaft exists. You can reach it by using ropes or traverses. It features several ledges. From one of these ledges, at about 80 meters deep, a short branch extends. After passing a small well topped by a large chimney, you will find a small lake. This branch has some water activity. Trickling water comes through the chimney from the sinkhole above.
A new branch discovered in 1988 leads to a depth of 152 meters. It starts beyond a tight passage. The passage is on a sloping ledge 105 meters deep. The squeeze is about 45 cm wide. It is roughly 3 meters long and has a bend near the end.
Beyond the squeeze, a shaft enters a short muddy tunnel. This in turn opens into a wide fissure running roughly east-west. At this point, you can descend directly. This leads to a bottom about 25 meters lower. Alternatively, you can traverse to the left. A short climb takes you to a window. Beyond it, a 17-meter shaft plunges. At its base, a small lake with concretions marks the maximum depth.
Continuing the traverse and climbing further, you can reach a dry branch. Here there is no air circulation. This contrasts with the previous section. The branch ends shortly thereafter. Thus ends the exploration of Jama Dovrebrih. A cave as fascinating as it is challenging. Its depths whisper tales of early explorers.