Visiting ancient predators: what will surprise tourists in the Tavrida cave
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The Tavrida cave, discovered in 2018 during construction of the federal highway of the same name, is being prepared for opening. A correspondent of the Travel Crimea Portal during a press tour visited a new tourist site and saw with his own eyes what this cave is like. Details please find in our material.
The cave is 20 km from Simferopol, in the village of Zuya, Byelogorsk district. Experts have established that predators lived in this cave for three hundred thousand years (from 1.8 million years ago) − saber-toothed tigers, cats, bears, hyenas, wolves. The remains of the largest bird in the Northern Hemisphere were also found there − the weight the feathered creature reached 450 kg. The age of the found ancient animals is estimated at approximately 75-100 thousand years.
According to the project manager, speleologist Gennady Samókhin, the length of the cave is about 2 kilometers. 485 meters have been prepared for the excursion. The rest of the cave is planned to be reserved for research works. The maximum height of the vaults is 14 meters, the width is 10-12 meters. The air temperature there is stable and always at +13 degrees.
It is planned to open the Tavrida cave for visitors by the beginning of the holiday season. It is planned that the tourists will be offered several types of excursions: for adults and children, students and scientists. The excursions will last about 50-60 minutes. The visiting capacity is about a thousand people per day. In the plans it is also to create an augmented reality in the cave − 3D-mapping.
"There are 11 view exposure sites there, where we will show minerals, bone remains, and tactile zones. The route will operate from 09:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. We shall see what to arrange next," said Gennady Samókhin.
It will be no less interesting at the entrance to the cave. On the ground, it is planned to create museums of paleontology and the Stone Age, a photo zone with figures of ancient animals and a landscape park.
By the way, the Tavrida cave will be the only cave in Russia that people with limited mobility will be able to visit. Parking for electric cars will be arranged at the entrance and exit.
