Mehedinti Mountains: Isverna Cave

Abstract

Isverna Cave is situated on the eastern slope of the Mehedinți Mountains, at an altitude of 450 m. It is over 4 km long, and it functions as the water collector for a karst area of over 20 km2. It is traversed by a river with very clear water except during flood conditions. A series of sumps, of which the longest is the Black Sump (~700 m), are spread along the underground river. This makes the cave an excellent destination for cave diving activities. The first few hundred meters of galleries host hibernation and maternity bat colonies.