On the territory of the Leningrad region there is an amazing natural monument - the Sablinsky caves. The village of Sablino (now Ulyanovka) is located in the Tosnensky district, forty kilometers from St. Petersburg. Here, on an area of two hundred and twenty hectares, there are the ancient canyons of the Tosna and Sablinka rivers, rocks of Ordovician and Cambrian rocks, two waterfalls, ancient barrows.
In the past, the Sablinsky caves were mines. Back in the nineteenth century, quartz sand was mined here. It was used in the brewing of Imperial crystal. Over the years of work, a huge volume of rocks was taken out of the ground, and thanks to this, a complex underground labyrinth appeared. Then nature continued to finish the cave - groundwater lakes and rivers appeared, stalactites appeared on the ceilings. In 1976, this area was recognized as a natural monument.
Sablinsky caves: how to get there
If you want to see this unique place, you can come here by car. Leave the Moscow highway and drive along itto the sign "Ulyanovka", then follow the signs "Sablinsky natural monument".
There is another way to visit the Sablinsky caves. How to get to them by train? At the Moscow railway station, take the train to the Sablino station. Minibuses and buses go from here to the Sablinskiye caves.
Features and uniqueness
First of all, it is necessary to say about the unusual relief of this area. Here, on the flat terrain, along with two waterfalls and caves, two canyons of the Sablinka and Tosna rivers were formed. This usually only happens in mountainous areas.
Scientists and researchers have registered fourteen caves here - eleven in the Tosna canyon and three in the Sablinka valley. In the latter case, there are underground passages from ten to fifteen meters long. They are very narrow and partially collapsed. They are called fox holes.
On the banks of the Tosna River, in the area of the Grafsky Bridge, there are two caves. Levoberezhnaya has a labyrinth length of more than five and a half kilometers, and Zhemchuzhnaya - more than three and a half kilometers. There are three underground lakes three meters deep in the caves. The walls of the caves are covered with red sandstone, and the vaults are covered with glauconite limestone.
Left Bank Cave
The most interesting not only for tourists, but also for scientists and researchers is the cave, which until recently had a very unattractive name - Garbage. So it was called because of the banal dump arranged above and along it. Time passed, all the garbage was removed, the arches of the cave were strengthened -and the former mine, and now the cave, became known as Levoberezhnaya.
Its length is more than 300 meters. Today, accompanied by an experienced guide, there is an excursion to the Sablinsky caves, and in particular to the Left Bank. Here you will see large and beautiful halls with original names: Dome or Star, Little Red Riding Hood, Hall of the Underground King, Big Space, Column and Jubilee.
You can see deposits of the Ordovician and Cambrian seas. You will definitely be shown the Cat's hole. You can only climb it while lying down, while keeping your hands along the body.
The air temperature in the cave is plus eight degrees all year round. Flocks of bats live in it. If you visit the cave in winter, you will see them sleeping. Butterflies sleep on white stones in winter.
Excursion to the Sablinsky caves takes place along several routes. The most popular of them is a bus trip to two waterfalls, the Tosna river canyon and a visit to the Levoberezhnaya cave. The route takes two and a half hours, of which tourists spend forty-five minutes in the cave. Excursion programs have different themes and are created not only for adult visitors, but also for schoolchildren. They will be useful in the study of natural history and geography.
Thousands of tourists who visited the Sablinsky caves leave enthusiastic reviews. Excursions are informative, allow you to feel like a real speleologist.
Legends and myths
For many years, the inhabitants of Sablino have been telling the legend of BelySpeleologist. As they say, once a cave explorer died here, and his spirit settled in this place to forever guard the beauty of the underworld. According to legend, he is very kind to disciplined cave visitors, and if they break off stalactites, throw garbage, wake up bats, etc., he can severely punish violators - cause a collapse, lead into a closed labyrinth.
Sablinsky caves keep one more secret. There is a legend that at the very beginning of the twentieth century, V. Lenin was hiding from the police in these caves. He was accompanied by a man who knew secret passages, and he helped Vladimir Ilyich get out through the far exit. Many speleologists have tried to find this passage, but without success.
Dissidents underground
From 1982 to 1984, the Sablinsky caves "sheltered" in their labyrinths about three hundred people united in groups and teams. Some of them were subject to strict military discipline, others walked on their own, without adjoining any groups. As they believed, it was the abode of freedom. Having played enough, the participants of this strange action dispersed to their homes.
Interest of scientists
In the near future, the Sablinsky caves will become a place where a unique scientific experiment will be conducted. One of the underground galleries will be completely isolated from the outside world. Scientists want to observe the natural course of natural processes that occur underground. Many will ask: "Why the experiment will be carried out in the Sablinskiyecaves?"
It's all about the special microclimate. As you already know, the temperature here is stable throughout the year - eight degrees Celsius. There is such an atmospheric regime in the caves that the Christmas tree, put here for the last New Year, remained in its original form for almost twelve months.
Waterfalls
Sablinsky caves, waterfalls attract a large number of tourists to the village. And these are not only our compatriots, but also foreign guests. The waterfalls formed on the flat terrain are an amazing joke of nature. True, their height is not great, but this is not so important.
The Tosna River is older than the Neva. It appeared seven or eight thousand years ago. Its ancient course can be traced under the waters of the Gulf of Finland. In 1884, the construction of a thirty-kilometer canal began (it was completed in 1909). It ran from Kronstadt to the mouth of the Neva. The channel was created for the passage of deep sea ships through it. It exists and is successfully operated today.
Tosnensky waterfall is the widest in Europe. Its width reaches thirty meters, and its height varies in different years from two to three and a half meters. In the Tosna canyon, between terraces located at different levels, many small streams flow down the limestone slabs.
Sablinsky waterfall is a little lower. Its height does not exceed two and a half meters. From the canyon you will have a stunning view of the streams of water rushing down. As a rule, visiting this placeall tours end.
Sablinsky caves and waterfalls are a unique natural complex that everyone who comes to St. Petersburg should see.
Tourist Tips
Excursion to the Sablinsky caves requires the presence of special equipment (helmets, lanterns, etc.). They are issued by the instructor, and the tourists themselves should take care of closed and waterproof shoes with stable soles that would not slip on the stones. Clothing should be light but warm.
Listen carefully before the tour of the instructor and carefully follow the safety rules that he will announce to you.
A lot of bats live in caves. These are protected animals. If you go on an excursion in winter, then remember that you can’t blind them with a flashlight, touch them, wake them up.
It's not worth taking risks and going underground for children under five years old, the elderly, as well as anyone who suffers from hypertension, claustrophobia, heart and vascular diseases.
Remember that there is no mobile connection in the caves. Therefore, keep up with your group - it is quite easy to get lost in the caves. There are cases when people wandered through the labyrinths for several days until rescuers found them.
Conclusion
Today you learned what it is - Sablinsky caves. We told you how to get to them, so do not waste time, come to see this unique natural monument. The trip will definitely not disappoint you, and you will be satisfied with the opportunityadmire the beauty of the underworld. Sablinsky caves and waterfalls will not leave anyone indifferent.
