Dan yr Ogof
| Dan-yr-Ogof | |
|---|---|
 A cave feature at Dan yr Ogof | |
  | |
| Location | Powys, Wales |
| OS grid | SN 83825 16021 |
| Length | 15,500 metres (50,900 ft) |
| Discovery | 1912 |
| Hazards | Some parts avoided when on tour of caves |
| Access | Safe |
| Translation | "Beneath the cave". The Morgan Brothers named the cave after their farm. (Welsh) |
| Registry | Cambrian Cave Registry[1] |
Dan yr Ogof, also known as the National Showcaves Centre for Wales, is a 17-kilometre (11 mi) long cave system in south Wales, five miles north of Ystradgynlais and fifteen miles south west of Brecon in the Brecon Beacons National Park. It is the main feature of a show cave complex, which is claimed to be the largest in Europe and is one of the major tourist attractions in Wales.[2] The first section of the cave system is open to the public, but the extensive cave system beyond is scheduled as a national nature reserve and is open only to bona-fide cavers.[2]
The bones of some 42 humans, as well as numerous animal bones, have been found in one of the nearby chambers of this cave system.[3] In a 2005 poll of Radio Times readers, Dan yr Ogof was named as the greatest natural wonder in Britain.[4]
Exploration
The cave was first explored in 1912 by three local brothers, Edwin, Tommy and Jeff Morgan, using candles and primitive equipment. Completely unsure of what they would discover, they armed themselves with a revolver. Edwin was the first to enter, as he was the smallest of the Morgan brothers. Initial expedition was halted at a large lake, which they later managed to cross by coracle. They eventually crossed three more lakes in the same manner, but were stopped by a tight crawl.
This squeeze, known as the Long Crawl, was first passed by Eileen Davies,[5][6] a member of Swansea University Caving Club in 1963, although it is claimed that it was first passed by Peter Ogden of the same Club in the October before.[citation needed] The initials 'PO' were found by Eileen Davies at the pitch to Gerard Platten Hall. Peter Ogden had not descended the pitch due to a period of bad weather.[7] Exploration has been steadily continued by later cavers who have extended the cave to its present 11 mile length. Some of this length was reached by cave diving. One of these explorers was Martyn Farr, who wrote a book about the system in which he claims that the system will eventually be extended to at least 150 kilometres (90 mi).
Filming location
The cave was used as a filming location for the Doctor Who serial The Pirate Planet.
See also
- Cheddar Gorge, home to some show caves
References
- ^ "Dan Yr Ogof Tourist Entrance". Cambrian Cave Registry. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
- ^ a b "Dan Yr Ogof". Dan Yr Ogof Cave Advisory Committee. 2008-04-19. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
- ^ "Bone Cave". The National Showcaves for Wales. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
- ^ "Caves win 'natural wonder' vote". BBC Wales. 2005-08-02. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
- ^ "Wardens' Newsletter 2008" (PDF). Dan Yr Ogof Cave Advisory Committee. February 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
- ^ Little, W.H.; Coase, Alan; Graham, Colin (May 1966). "Belfry Bulletin No 219, May 1966". Bristol Exploration Club. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
- ^ Farr, Martyn (1999). Dan yr Ogof: The Jewel of Welsh Caves. Gomer Press. p. 50. ISBN 1-85902-645-1.