Access to Askinskaya Ice Cave is temporarily closed in Bashkiria

In Bashkiria, access to the Askinskaya Ice Cave is temporarily closed due to the flood situation and the awakening of bears. “The complex will be closed from March 20 to April 20. Its visit is still unsafe, especially since the cave has already begun to be transforming for the summer period: the temperature on the tour site is + 1 C at a norm of 0 degrees, ”the regional department of the Russian Geographical Society in Bashkiria reports.

Askinskaya Cave is a large cavity of the Southern Urals of a bag-like type. It is a natural monument of national significance. Since 2017, the entrance to the cave is limited; the cave was leased to the Russian Geographical Society to restore the microclimate and preserve glacial relics.

The cave is located on the eastern slope of the Ulutau ridge, two kilometers from the village of Solontsy (Askino) of the Arkhangelsky district and is a large hall of 104 m long, 61 m maximum width, and 26 m height. The glacier almost entirely occupies the floor of the hall. The steep descent into the hall from the entrance to the cave is covered with ice to a depth of about 20 m. Giant ice stalagmites, reaching a height of 8-11 m, diameter at the base up to 5 m are in the cave.