Gouffre Berger
| Gouffre Berger | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Vercors |
| Depth | 1271 m |
| Discovery | 1953 |
| Geology | Limestone |
| Entrances | 11 |
The Gouffre Berger is a French cave discovered on 24 May 1953 by Joseph Berger, Bouvet, Ruiz de Arcaute and Marc Jouffray. From 1953 to 1963, it was regarded as the deepest cave in the world at −1,122 metres (−3,681 ft), relinquishing this title to the previous contender, Pierre Saint Martin, in 1964, after further exploration. The Gouffre Berger is now ranked 28th deepest cave in the world, and the 4th in France.
To return from the bottom of the cave back to the surface can take between 15 and 30 hours, without long breaks. In 1967, Ken Pearce, a metallurgy teacher from Britain, descended with the Pegasus caving club team from Nottingham UK, organised and led by Peter Watkinson, and along with a 40-metre (130 ft) dive, reached a depth of 1,133 metres (3,717 ft). They emerged after 13 days underground, having set a new world record at the time.
In 1968, B Leger and J Dubois reached a depth of −1,141 metres (−3,743 ft). This record was held until July 1982, when Patrick Penez attained −1,191 metres (−3,907 ft).In 1990, the « scialet de la Fromagère » makes a jonction with the gouffre Berger. The new depth is −1,271 metres (−4,170 ft). In recent years there have been six fatalities in this cave, five due to water. During a storm or heavy rain, the Gouffre Berger can become a dangerous trap and the water levels rise very quickly. In 1996, Englishwoman Nicole Dollimore and Hungarian Istvan Torda died due to violent flooding in the cave.[1]
In June 2011 the terminal sumps are again immersed[2] and in 2014 the junction by the sumps attempts continue.[3]
The water goes until it meets the flooded area of the Cuves de Sassenage.[4] In 2017 the development is estimated at thirty-seven kilomètres of galleries with eleven entrances (cave Delta 35).[5]
Location
The entrance is within the commune of Engins high on the Vercors Plateau[6]. In June 2001, the commune lifted a two-year ban on exploring this cave.
- Co-ordinates: Lambert III : x=856.630; y=3329,440; z=1460 [7]
See also
References
- ^ Profundezas. "In Memoriam"..
- ^ Bianzani, David. "The exploration of the Terminal siphons of the Berger report 30 june 2011" (PDF). site of underground dives..
- ^ Bianzani, David. "Causette. Explorations". site of underground dives..
- ^ "Les Cuves de Sassenage" (pdf). parc-du-vercors.fr..
- ^ Map of gouffre Berger cave at comité départemental de spéléologie 39.fr.
- ^ "The entrances of gouffre Berger". geoportail.gouv.fr..
- ^ Spéléo dans le Vercors Tome I - Edisud
Bibliography
- Opération -1000 by Jean Cadoux, Jean Lavigne, Géo Mathhieu, Louis Potié. - Grenoble : Edition de Grenoble, 1955.
- Réédition : Opération -1000, idem. - Marseille : Édition Jeann Lafitte. 261 pages ; ISBN 9782862762326
- Gouffre Berger premier -1000. 1956-2016 by Serge Caillault. - Corenc, édition Spéléo Magazine 94. 36 pages ; 2016; ISSN 1629-1573
- Gouffre Berger, l'esprit d'équipe by Mark Wright, Robbie Shone and others.- Sheffield: published by Vertebrate Publishing, 2014. 254 pages ; ISBN 9781910240120
External links
- Access details, history and survey of cave
- Gouffre Berger at Troglophil.de
- Caving in the Gouffre Berger – « Immersion » - In the footsteps of Fernand Petzl
- Recommendations for descending the Gouffre Berger.
45°13′9″N 5°36′16″E / 45.21917°N 5.60444°E
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