Longest known cave in Latvia. Discovered by the members of the present day nature Heritage Fund. Formed on the contact of clay and sandstone layers of middle Devonian Burtnieki series. Cave consists of three larges halls, several smaller ones and passages connecting them. Many of those passages are very narrow. At the northern part of the cave there has been flooded a passage thus forming a small underground lake. Total length of passages in this cave - 346 m, area of the largest hall - 72 m2, height up to 7 m, volume of whole cave - 180 m³. Just 12 m divide Daugeni Big cave and Daugeni Small cave - second longest cave in Latvia. Length of the passages in Daugeni Small cave is 159 m, area of this cave - 247 m². During the high water part of Daugeni Big cave is inundated. As the bottom of the cave is formed by clay the walls of the cave during the high water are covered with thin layer of clay and plant remains. Thus the cave is recording the history of Salaca River. Especially impressive is the first hall in the cave - up to 7 m high. There can be seen the roots of the trees at the ceiling. There is beautiful pattern of sandstone layers on the walls. Very impressive are the passages where the spring flows like a small river. There is a tradition that Nature Heritage Fund does not reveal the exact location of this cave. Unfortunately since its discovery of those caves tourists have found it and deprived the primeval beauty of the cave. |
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