Krest Cave

Krest Cave, also known as Siyskaya Cave, is located in the Shira district of the Republic of Khakassia, about 6.5 km south of the village of Efremkino, on the left bank of the mouth of the Malaya Siya river. It lies in a rocky ridge near the Efremkino — Kommunar road, next to a disused limestone quarry.

History

Cavers discovered the cave in the 1970s. Inside, they found animal remains and hunting equipment — bone arrowheads — showing that the cave had been used by people in the past.

What to see

The cave got its name from the shape of its entrance: the upper part of the opening has a trapezoidal cross-section resembling a cross. The entrance is a vertical shaft 30 to 50 meters deep, which often forms a snow-and-ice plug near the top. At the bottom of the cave lies a glacier up to 4 meters thick.

Krest Cave is a combined cave system with a total length of about 380 meters and a depth (amplitude) of up to 65 meters. Inside is a large chamber called Aida, roughly 100 by 30 meters, known for its good acoustics. In winter, colonies of bats hibernate in the chamber.

The cave is rich in formations: stalactites, stalagmites, coralloids, helictites, and large ice icicles can all be found inside.

How to get there

From Abakan, drive to the village of Shira — about 175 km — then about 35 km further to the village of Efremkino, and another 7 km to the village of Malaya Siya. The cave itself lies about 2 km from Malaya Siya. A well-marked trail leads to the site, starting from the ruins of old lime-burning kilns.

Good to know

The cave entrance is a deep vertical shaft, and descending it requires special equipment and experience; visiting without proper preparation and rope gear is unsafe. Because of the ice plug at the entrance and the glacier at the bottom, it is cold inside year-round, which is worth keeping in mind when choosing clothing.