Optimistic cave

Not far from the village of Korolevka in Ukraine, there is the longest gypsum cave in the world, Optimisticheskaya. It was discovered in 1966, and to date, 230 kilometers of the cave's length have been mapped. She still hasn't been fully examined.

About 20 million years ago, there was an ancient shallow sea in these parts, but then it receded, and numerous earthquakes caused cracks in the mountain city. Since the rock consisted mainly of gypsum, it was not difficult for the water to carve into it the huge underground labyrinths of the Optimistic Cave. Back in 1965, speleologists from Lviv tried to walk through the labyrinths of the cave, but a siphon filled with water blocked their way. Only a year later, an attempt was made to pass through it. This is how the first 400 meters of the cave were examined. With each new attempt, the scientists explored 100-1500 meters of the cave, skeptical colleagues called them "optimists", believing that the length of the cave is only a few kilometers. Hence the name of the Optimistic cave.

With each new expedition, it became more and more difficult to explore the caves, so they began to build base camps in the cave for recreation. There are 15 camps in total, of which the furthest is called the Oasis, which has a water tank, food supplies, cookware, and places to sleep. The camps have everything you need for multi-day expeditions. Previously, you had to carry water cans with you, but with the discovery of water sources in caves, the work of researchers has become much easier.

The labyrinths of the Optimistic cave are located at a depth of about 20 meters, there is a lot of clay in it, from which craftsmen make sculptures right in the cave. You can also see stalactites, various seepage formations, helictites, and small lakes with clear water. A trip to the cave will leave an indelible impression on any seasoned traveler. But the narrow passageways and musty air will eventually make themselves felt, and you'll want to go outside and get some fresh air and have a good rest after a grueling hike.