Novososedovskaya Cave

Novososedovskaya Cave lies on the northern edge of the village of Novososedovo in the Iskitimsky District of the Novosibirsk Region, in a wooded part of a hill that local residents call the Stony Cape, or simply the Cape. The cave sits close to where the small Maly Ik stream flows into the Ik River, a right tributary of the Berd, and it lies within the territory of the regional nature monument Berd Rocks, protected since 2000.

Origin and structure

The cave is of karst origin. It once had eight grottoes, but only three have survived to this day — the rest collapsed or were filled with rock over time. Getting inside is not easy: the entrance is very narrow, about 40 by 60 centimeters, and not everyone can squeeze through it. The visible entrance funnel is a trace of an old explosion. Inside the surviving grottoes there are tiny stalactites up to a centimeter long.

Legend

Local residents tell a story that the cave once had two entrances, but one of them was blown up in the past. The funnel at the blast site is the only visible trace of this story today; the legend has no documented confirmation and is passed down as local lore.

What to see

The cave appeals to cave tourists in two ways at once: as a sporting challenge because of its narrow, awkward entrance, and as a natural landmark in its own right — it is part of the Berd Rocks ridge, popular among hikers and beginner rock climbers. The hill that holds the cave rises above the forest, and the climb to its top is a separate part of the outing. The Berd Rocks ridge itself stretches along the right bank of the Berd River and is known for its rock outcrops, where beginner climbers often train, so many visitors come here for a whole day outdoors rather than just to see the cave.

Getting there

The cave can be reached by commuter train to Iskitim, followed by a local bus to the village of Novososedovo. Another option is to drive or take a taxi straight to the village. From the village you need to walk through the forest to reach the foot of the hill. It is easier to look for the cave entrance by approaching from the upper part of the hill rather than climbing up the slope from below, where the narrow opening is easy to miss among rocks and bushes.