Ylasyn Cave (Elasyn, Falcon, Ice)

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Photos

  • Пещера Ыласын (Еласын, Соколиная, Ледяная). Photography 1
  • Пещера Ыласын (Еласын, Соколиная, Ледяная). Photography 2
  • Пещера Ыласын (Еласын, Соколиная, Ледяная). Photography 3
  • Пещера Ыласын. Photography 4

Description

Ylasyn (Falcon) Cave, officially known as Yelasyn, is located in the Ishimbay region and has been a natural monument since 1985. It is located on the right slope of the Utynlygol dry land and covers an area of ​​the protected zone of 100 hectares. The cave was formed in Middle Carboniferous limestones.

Geographical location and structure

The cave is a gallery and a system of passages in the eastern, northeastern and southeastern directions. Its length is 487 meters, the average width is 10 meters, the average height is 5 meters, and the amplitude reaches 28 meters. The area of ​​the cave is 1025 square meters, the volume is 5287 cubic meters.

Features of the input and internal structure

The main entrance to the cave is an arch 12.0 meters wide and 7.6 meters high, located in a sinkhole with a diameter of 30 meters at an altitude of 170 meters above the bottom of the dry land. Above the main entrance there are four more entrances leading to side caves. The path from the main entrance begins with an icy descent of approximately 30 meters, which turns into a gallery 80 meters long.

Geological and biological features

The ceiling at the entrance of the cave is flat, covered with frost, “organ pipes” and small stalactites appear. The walls are vertical; the floor contains ice stalagmites, brownish clay and boulders. From the gallery there are passages to the southwest (20 meters long), southeast (100 meters long) and south (1-3.5 meters high). At the end of the southern passage there is a lake, followed by a round passage connecting to the southeast and also ending in a lake. At the bottom of the passages there are clay, stalagmites and bones of small animals, on the ceiling and walls there are stalactites, calcite bark and sometimes mondmilch.

The cave serves as a refuge for various species of animals, including falcons and bats. It is also home to endemic insects, namely springtails (Plutomurus (Collembola) baschkiricus Skorikow), which are now found only in caves and not on the surface.

Ylasyn Cave is one of the oldest caves in the Southern Urals, its age is estimated at at least 2 million years. It represents an important geopark and cultural heritage site for the region.

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