Gourgouthakas Explained

Gourgouthakas (el|Γουργούθακας; from "small cutting on rocks, in which rain water is collected and from which animals drink water") is a cave located in the Lefka Ori mountains on the Greek island of Crete. Until resurveyed in 2022, it was considered the deepest cave in Greece, with an explored depth of,^[2] and was the 43rd deepest in the world in 2010.^[3] Following the re-survey conducted by the Gourgouthakas expedition of 2022,^[4] the depth has been re-evaluated at .

Gourgouthakas was discovered in 1990 by the Speleological Mission of the Catamaran team, based in Μontbeliard, France.^[5] The depth of 985 m was reached in 1997. ^[6] In 1998, the same group reached the small lake (sump) at the bottom, at a depth of 1208m (3,963feet).^[7] The lake has not yet been explored.

The cave is primarily a deep vertical shaft, filled with intersecting arcades and huge stalagmites and stalactites. Due to its configuration, specialized equipment and expertise is required to explore it.

See also

List of caves in Greece

Notes and References

1. Web site: fr . Levka 2008 . 50 . 29 May 2023.
2. Web site: fr . Levka Ori 1998. 28 May 2023.
3. Web site: Worlds deepest caves . https://web.archive.org/web/20060515145608/http://www.caverbob.com/wdeep.htm . usurped . May 15, 2006 . 17 October 2010 . Gulden . Bob . 21 September 2010 . National Speleological Society GEO2 Committee on long and deep caves.
4. Web site: Gourgouthakas expedition report 2022 .
5. Web site: Gourgouthakas, the underground giant . 20 November 2014 . cretazine.
6. Web site: fr . Levka Ori 1997 . 29 May 2023.
7. Web site: Cave Gourgouthakas . 20 November 2014 . Terrabook.