In the Leningrad region in the Volkhov district there is the village of Staraya Ladoga, which is called the ancient capital of Northern Russia. There are many attractions that attract tourists. One of the most interesting are the artificial caves used for the extraction of quartz sand. Tourists visit two of them - Staroladozhskaya and Tanechkina. About the latter and the article will tell.
How did Tanechkina cave arise?
Staraya Ladoga attracts lovers of dungeons and adventures, since here they can visit the mysterious cave with a labyrinth of galleries and an underground lake - Tanechkina.
This is a man-made quarry, which arose at the end of the 19th century, when white quartz sandstone for producing glass began to be mined here. Extraction was carried out by the chamber-pillar method, and numerous extensive cavities - columns, were formed. Between them left pillars - columns - to maintain the arch (this helped to avoid collapses).
Today, work is not carried out here due to depletion of mineral reserves, the Tanechkina cave has long been abandoned. Over the years, nature has worked on it: streams broke through in the dungeon, limestone natuks formed on the walls, embryos of future stalactites and stalagmites appeared. The cave itself has become a popular tourist attraction.
Description
As mentioned above, the extraction of quartz sand in the quarries of Staraya Ladoga was carried out by the chamber-pillar method. Thanks to this, the Tanechkina cave acquired a fabulous appearance: numerous galleries and underground halls, whose arches are supported by majestic columns, resemble a magical palace. The walls are decorated with bizarre patterns of multi-colored layers of rocks. Their height almost everywhere does not exceed 1.2 meters.
Also, the picturesque underground world gives a large lake, the depth of which reaches half a meter. When the heat comes up above, the lake dries up, leaving only a few puddles disconnected from each other. During spring floods, this underground pond is again filled to the brim.
Tanechkina cave is the longest in the Leningrad region. According to official figures, its length is more than 7.5 kilometers (this is taking into account the fact that part of the galleries collapsed). Locals claim that its actual length exceeds 40 kilometers, and underground passages lead to the ancient fortress in Staraya Ladoga.
Tanechkina cave: how to get
This quarry is located at the foot of the Malysheva Mountain, which is close to the Staroladozh Fortress.
To easily find the cave, you must first get to Staraya Ladoga:
- by highway Novaya Ladoga-Zuevo or St. Petersburg-Petrozavodsk;
- by train in the direction of St. Petersburg-Murmansk, Petrozavodsk or Vologda; get off at Staraya Ladoga station;
- from St. Petersburg by train from Moskovsky Station to the stop Volkhovstroy, then by bus number 23.
Then from the village drive / walk 1.5 kilometers along the highway No. A115, then turn to the river bank and walk along it another 600 meters to the cave itself. The entrance to it is almost imperceptible, therefore it is better that the locals or guides show the place.
The Old Ladoga mounds, from which about a kilometer away the Tanechkina cave can also serve as a reference point.
Attention! This is dangerous!
Many tourists are attracted to Tanechkina cave. An excursion with an experienced guide leaves an unforgettable experience for everyone. But extreme lovers are trying to get into the quarry alone. Walking through the underground labyrinths of narrow grottoes, intricate transitions between spacious halls and woven climbs can end in failure. Firstly, you can easily get lost, secondly, get hit by landslides, which are not uncommon, thirdly, experience the attack of bats living under the arches of the cave, which is very unpleasant.
Tourists should know that visiting the Tanechkino cave alone is very dangerous!
Interesting Facts
Why Tanechkina cave, where does such a sweet name come from? There are no official documents explaining the origin of such a name, so it can be argued that the people christened the cave in this way. Local residents say that many decades ago a man lived in Staraya Ladoga, who alone raised his daughter Tanechka. They lived very friendly, father worked in a quarry, and his daughter brought him lunch every day. One day the girl did not return from the cave. They scouted her whole village for several days. Father did not find a place for himself from grief. But on the 4th day of the search, Tanya was found - she was scared, exhausted, but safe and sound. Since then this place has been called - Tanechkina cave.
In the cave there is a place where the same temperature is always kept - +6 ° . Speleologists are studying this phenomenon.
Tanechkina Cave is declared a conservation area due to the fact that several colonies of bats have settled in it - water and pond night-lights, northern leather jackets, ear-flaps and Brandt's night-lights. In total, more than 400 individuals of these animals live here.
In winter, during floods and during heavy rains the entrance to the cave is closed.
A walk in the cave can be on foot or by boat on the underground lake.