The Hungarian speleologists celebrate the 100 years jubilee of the Hungarian organized speleology this year. During these 100 years archeological and paleontological diggings, mineralogical, karst morphogenetical, tectonical and geophysical measurements, investigations, researches and not in the hundredth place successful cave discoveries took place in a number of caves. Under the low central range relations of our country, along the significant vegetal cover cave entrances opened in natural way are rare. If not taking into account our most famous large cave, the Aggtelek-Jósvafő Baradla Cave, length of our caves was increased by two magnitudes in the past 100 years. Only in 2009 more than 5 % was the progress! The „newly” revealed caves include spectacular stalactite cave, shaft cave requiring reliable SRT knowledge, cave with watercourse and thermal karst cave decorated with various crystals as well.
We keep our jubilee conference in our largest thermal karstic cave region, in our capital. On the first day of the 3 days long conference we evocate the results, happenings of the past and on the second and third days freely chosen topics related to speleology can be presented. On all three days we provide the possibility to visit the thermal karstic caves of the capital, including the Molnár János Cave filled with 17-27 °C thermal water which can be visited by divers only, and the József-hegyi and Pál-völgyi Caves which are famous for their snow-white gypsum, aragonite and calcite crystals, respectively. The lectures, presentations will be held in the aula of the 110 years old beautiful classicistic palace of the Geological Institute of Hungary and the cave center will be formed in the heart of the cave region, in an abandoned, recultivated limestone quarry in tents. The Speleobar (with cold-warm meals and drinks) will work here in the strip pit, projections will also be held here and the evocative Speleocamp being furnished with moderate comfort will be available here for a discount price. Participants will be transported between the two sites by separate bus (approx. 30 minutes). For those coming by car we provide a guarded parking possibility. It will be possible to erect selling booths as well.
For the week after the conference we organize two post-conference excursions 5 days long each, which present the caving regions of Hungary farther from the capital (including the Aggtelek Karst listed on the World Heritage list of UNESCO since 15 years) – completed with surface geological curiosities. Prices for both of the conference and the post-conference excursions were established so that they are around (or even below) the cost price in order to make possible for the most of you to participate.
According to the decision of the FSE Bureau in last November, our conference will also be the 5th European Cavers’ Meeting withal.
Dr. Szabolcs Leél-Őssy
Chairman of the Hungarian Speleological Society