The cave was dived in 2004 by the diving team of the Bat-Divers in 11 dives to its deepest point at 71 metres, completely surveyed and the 3 side passages navigated. The first, already discovered in 2003, rises vertically to 13 metres, becomes very muddy and smaller than 50 cm.The other two side passages turned out to be scales ending blindly: one at 28 metres horizontally (about 8 metres long), the other from 33 to 42 leads back to the main fissure. This scale is knife-thin at the edge and divides again in its course into several thin lamellae, which is why it was given the name 'air filter'.The main passage runs as a fissure gap with numerous scales and scourings in a length of 10-15 m and 1 - 4.5 m width in a south-north direction with a slight eastward deviation. It is inclined by 12 degrees to the eastand torqued vertically around itself up to 33 metres.It then runs at an angle of about 45 degrees to about minus 65 metres, and then runs straight out for 20 metres. Soil conditions: From 33 metres to 65 metres depth a scree of larger and smaller blocks of debris, from minus 65 metres to minus 71 metres first gravel, then sand. Then the siphon rises in a vertical, smooth-walled shaft, which was dived to 55 metres.Several small-volume but strong-current tributaries between 12 and 6 metres of water depth. Visibility varied between one and four metres, depending on the fill - most sediment is brought in by the tributaries between 12 and 6 metres water depth. The water level in the cave entrance fluctuated between 40 and 240 cm due to the weather, and the divers had to be "dragged" to the descent zone at times using hauling ropes and deflectors. Source: www.geoline.at
The "Palfauer Wasserloch" is the largest water-bearing cave in Styria. In the gorge, the spring water covers a height difference of 300 m at 900 m, almost in free fall. Newly constructed paths make the two-hour gorge hike a safe pleasure.Special feature: a steel cable suspension bridge spans the Salza at a height of 20m (length 65m).Open: Early May to 31 OctoberInformation: +43 (0)3633/2201-51 Please check the website for current prices: www.wasserloch.at
wasserloch@landlkg.at The giant karst spring of the Palfauer Wasserloch is located in the middle of a steep and difficult to access rock face on the southern slope of the Hochkar.The mighty spring cave is the largest water-bearing cave in Styria and is one of the most magnificent karst phenomena in Austria.From the source to the mouth of the Salza River, the water flows over a height of 300 metres. A nature-adapted and easy-to-walk path with wooden stairs and bridges leads through the 900-metre-long gorge. Here you can experience the water "at work".With its narrow gorges, the hollow basins (scours) cut out of the hard rock and five magnificent waterfalls, which together are 152 metres high, the Wasserlochklamm is one of the most impressive natural spectacles in Austria.
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From the Wasserlochschenke inn, located directly on the B24 main road, access to the Wasserlochklamm gorge is via a spectacular 65m-long steel cable suspension bridge 20m above the Salza River.From the suspension bridge on the northern bank of the Salza, the trail leads approx. 300m downstream to the junction for the Wasserlochklamm gorge.After a short ascent over a small ridge forested with beech trees, you reach the actual gorge area after a few minutes' walk.A very well-built, easy-to-walk path with sturdy wooden stairs and bridges partly attached to the vertical rock walls now lead through the 900m-long gorge.Hundreds of stairs, a total of about 350 m above sea level, through narrow canyons, past five enormous waterfalls and numerous pools (hollow basins) lead to the waterhole, the outlet of the giant karst spring.
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Wasserlochschenke (Tschechenplatz)
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Atemberaubende Wasserlochklamm in Palfau | © TV Gesäuse | Stefan Leitner
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Wasserlochklamm - Ausflugsziel für die ganze Familie | © TV Gesäuse | Stefan Leitner
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wasserlochklamm palfau_img_86797381 | © Community | Norbert Vidmar
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wasserlochklamm palfau_img_1792806 | © Gesäuse - Palfau
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wasserlochklamm palfau_img_1886603 | © Gesäuse - Palfau
What the weather will be like
Landl (522m)
Rather cloudy at daybreak, but dry and bright with plenty of sunshine through the day.
At first occasional snowfall, later rain mixed with snow.
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