Kurgazak Cave
Kurgazak cave (or Kurgazak cave) is the most popular cave in the Ay river valley. Located in the Satka district of the Chelyabinsk region, it is a cave of the corridor-grotto type 530 meters long.
The inlet of the cave is located in the right slope of the Kurgazak log at an altitude of about two tens of meters, a few hundred meters from the Ay river. The entrance to the cave is large, up to 5 meters high and about 15 meters wide. The entrance grotto due to this, almost all is illuminated. This grotto is called Pigeon, as pigeons like to nest in its niches. In addition to its size (37 meters in length and up to 7 meters in height) it does not represent anything special. However, the cave is much longer.
The passage to the main part of the cave can not be noticed. It is located at the base of the left wall 10 meters from the entrance. It is an ice-covered hole. The glacier does not melt year round. Here you can see trees frozen in ice, which, apparently, in the past were used by someone for descent. Since the hole is almost vertical and quite long (6-7 meters), it is very difficult to go down there and especially climb. In addition, ice melts in summer and wet clothing is provided.
As a rule, a rope hangs here, but, nevertheless, it is better not to rely on a happy occasion and take your own rope on a trip to go down to the cave. Also, in order to avoid trouble it is better to leave just in case one of the participants of the trip to the surface. It is impossible to go down and climb the icy descent without a rope. In addition, gloves are needed.
This is the most difficult test, but daredevils will be awarded. Behind an ice slope, the so-called Tunnel of Unknown begins. The tunnel is wide (6-8 meters), but sometimes quite low, you have to squat, and sometimes crawl. At the same time, the tunnel of Unknown is quite long - 85 meters long.
On the vaults are the remains of past splendor. Here you can see the fragments of numerous stalactites in the past, sagging crusts and brushes. In summer, on the arches of the cave are beautiful droplets of water that shine in the light of lanterns like diamonds. In winter, ice stalactites and stalagmites form here.
The Tunnel of Unknown leads to a huge grotto of Enthusiasts. On the floor of the grotto there are many huge blocks breaking away from the ceiling. You need to move carefully. Feet glide over wet clay stones. From here, another move leads to the last hall of the Kurgazak cave - the Grotto of Silence. To get into it you will have to squeeze through a hole with a talking name - "Rolling Mill". It represents a narrow passage through the gap between two even, parallel plates.
The Grotto of Silence resembles the grotto of Enthusiasts. The floor here is also littered with large boulders. From time to time, rockfalls occur here today. In the summer, Kurgazak is visited daily by hundreds of water-tourists. However, the vast majority is limited to inspection of the entrance grotto. Few decide to go down the ice into dark obscurity. Kurgazak Cave is a natural monument.
In the past, a powerful karst spring with clean and cold water beat near the cave. Unfortunately, after the removal of groundwater in connection with the construction of the Kurgazak bauxite mine (now it is already abandoned), the spring has dried up.
How to get there
The easiest way to visit the Kurgazak cave during the rafting on the Ay river. The cave is located on the left bank of the river a few kilometers lower after Novaya Pristan and Megeve. You can come here by car. Take the M-5 Chelyabinsk - Ufa highway to the city of Satka, then go to Suleya and Mezheve. At Mezhevoy turn onto Blinovka. Drive through the village and continue on to the right dirt road. It will lead to the Ay river, there will be a cave nearby.
