Rods in Mexico Cave of Swallows. Mexican cave - an entrance to a parallel world? What's inside the Cave of Swallows
I’m sure many have watched James Cameron’s film “Sanctum” (which, by the way, means “Purgatory”), but few know that the cave that became the final refuge for most of the heroes really exists. And its name is “Cave of Swallows” or “Sótano de las Golondrinas”. The cave is located in Mexico, in the state of San Luis Potosí.
Nature is brilliant in its creations, sometimes it delights and fascinates. Thus, the Cave of Swallows, which is located in the tropics of central Mexico, attracts base jumpers and cavers from all over the world. Its size is impressive, its beauty delights, its originality fascinates. The Cave of Swallows ranks 2nd in depth in Mexico, and 11th in the world. It descends to the depths of the Earth to a depth of 376 meters, which is comparable to the height of the Empire State Building (381 m without the spire).
Hiding in the thickets of tropical vegetation, the entrance to the cave looks like a huge hole in the mountain with a diameter of about 55 meters. The hole is almost round and beckons into its depths with twilight.
Only a narrow road leads to the Cave of Swallows. walking trail and a dirt road for jeeps. Ecologists strive to preserve the unique ecosystem; to achieve this, they introduce a number of restrictions for researchers.
Very often the Cave of Swallows seems smaller than it actually is. Having the shape of a kind of bottle: first a 55-meter vertical “neck”, then expanding to 130-160 meters, it is a serious test even for very experienced and physically trained base jumpers and speleologists.
In order to preserve the unique ecosystem for which the Swallow Cave is known, only one path is allowed for descents with an area for attaching equipment and ropeways.
The cave became home to a colony of swallows, which consists of several million individuals. That's why it got its name. In order not to disturb the quiet life of birds, descents are allowed only in certain time: from 12 to 16 hours. In addition, colliding with a flock of birds during a free flight is very dangerous.
The Swallow Cave has many gentle slopes and stepped passages. So going down, let alone climbing, the slopes is a difficult task. Even for professionals, the climb can take about an hour and a half.
The bottom of the cave is strewn with fragments and chipped walls and bird droppings. Together with rainwater, this became food and shelter for many species of insects and reptiles. The air is filled with the smell of rot, fungi, mold and bacteria. And although it is safe to be at the bottom of the Swallow Cave, a long stay should be carried out with additional equipment and filters.
A free fall without a parachute to the bottom of the cave will take approximately 12 seconds. Daredevils who decide to jump from a slope must plan everything clearly, because the parachute can be opened only at a strictly defined time: at 6-7 seconds of the fall.
The Swallow Cave has recently become a real Mecca for base jumpers and speleologists. This allowed local residents to earn income from tourism (before this, only agriculture was developed). However, another problem arose - environmental pollution.
The Cave of Swallows, located in central Mexico (in the state of San Luis Potosi), is considered one of the deepest karst sinkholes in the world. Moreover, its internal part is much larger than the external part.
If you look from above, you will see only a relatively small oval failure, measuring 49 by 62 meters. It certainly looks impressive - a big hole in the middle of the tropical jungle. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. As you go down, the hole begins to expand and in the lower part reaches dimensions of 303 by 135 meters.
The Cave of Swallows in cross-section is a kind of bag or large bottle with a relatively small upper part. The figure below shows its schematic model.
The total depth of the cave is from 333 to 376 meters, depending on which side you take measurements from, since the entrance to the cave is located on a slope and one side is higher than the other. The total internal volume is estimated at more than 33,000 cubic meters.
Where does the name come from?
The Cave of Swallows got its name from the Mexican word “Golondrinas”, which means “swallow”. Locals have long called this place “Sotano de las Golondrinas”, which can be translated as “basement of the swallows”. This is due to the fact that the inner walls of the cave are abundantly populated by birds. But there are very few swallows among them. Mostly black and white-collared swifts and green parrots live here.
Most likely, swallows lived here at the time when the cave got its name.
In the modern world, the “basement” has gradually transformed into a “cave”. Now this attraction is known throughout the world as the Cave of Swallows (or Cave of Swallows).
History and study of the Cave of Swallows
Local residents have known about the existence of the cave since ancient times, but, oddly enough, there are not a single legend associated with swallows or mythical creatures, or they simply have not survived to this day.
It is interesting that even the Spanish conquistadors, during the conquest of Mexico, knew nothing about this place. Only at the end of December 1966 did the first evidence of exploration of the cave appear. Then, on December 27, a group of three speleologists (T.R. Evans, Charles Borland and Randy Sterns) descended to the bottom of the hole and took the first measurements.
It turned out that, due to the abundant population of birds on the walls of the cave, a mass of products of their vital activity accumulated at the bottom. Deposits of such “valuable” substances attract numerous insects and snakes. Bacteria, mold and fungi are also common here. In general, the atmosphere is appropriate. The smell is also quite specific and even slightly poisonous. Therefore, staying downstairs for a long time without personal protective equipment can be dangerous.
The first pathfinders examined the bottom of the Cave of Swallows and found passages to lower levels, but they were not able to study them in detail. It is noteworthy that the lower level caves have not yet been studied. It is only known that one of them goes to a depth of 515 meters.
What's inside the Cave of Swallows
In addition to the described stench of the smell and the presence of many insects swarming in excrement, the colonies of birds that make nests in the crevices of the cave are of particular interest. In the morning, all this feathered brethren flies out in flocks in search of food, and in the evening they return to their homes.
The processes of morning departure and evening return are interesting. In the morning, the birds, gathering in numerous flocks, begin to circle in a spiral inside the cave, smoothly rising to the top, and fly out. But in the evening they dive in, almost instantly reaching their nests.
This process attracts both tourists and scientists.
It is worth reminding you about the cave of the Goa Lawah temple in Indonesia. There, instead of birds, thousands of bats fly out of the cave. Also quite an unusual sight.
Cave as a tourist site
The Swallow Cave is interesting from many angles. We have already described bird watching, but there is also mountaineering and base jumping.
Mountaineering in the Cave of Swallows
Those who like to climb on (and inside) rocks should not avoid this cave. Many try to conquer it, in this case, depth. Usually the descent takes no more than half an hour, but the ascent can take up to 2 hours. You have to understand that you shouldn’t go in here without proper physical preparation.
Descent into the cave is allowed only from one (lowest) side of the hole. This path is a little shorter and is the safest. For climbers, reliable anchors are provided, fixed in the walls.
BASE jumping
Some, especially desperate people, do not want to spend half an hour descending and simply jump inside...
But don't worry, these are base jumpers - those who like to jump with a parachute from all sorts of tall buildings and natural objects. These comrades reach the bottom of the cave in just 10 seconds. True, they, like climbers, then have to get out, using the skills of rock climbers.
If you are planning to skydive inside the Swallow Cave, be sure to keep in mind that this is only allowed between 12:00 and 16:00. This is due to the fact that in given time There are practically no birds in the cave, so when jumping, you will not pose a danger to the birds, and they will not pose a danger to you. Colliding with birds while in free fall can be dangerous.
Here is a short video about swallows jumping into the cave.
How to get there
In addition to descending into the failure itself, there will also be a road to it an exciting journey. Since the Swallow Cave is located in the dense jungle, far from civilization, it is quite difficult to get to it. The nearest airport is Tampico, 150 kilometers away. But it's better to take advantage International airport Mexico City is 250 kilometers south. Then take a bus to any of the nearest settlements near the Swallow Cave.
- 2 kilometers to the north is the village of San Rafael Tamapatz
- 5 kilometers to the south is the town of Tam-Apats
- 9 kilometers to the east is the city of Akismon
As you understand, there is no paved road to the Swallow Cave. To get here you need a four-wheel drive SUV or a helicopter. Plus, a local guide wouldn't hurt.
- Cave of Swallows - ranks second in the ranking of the deepest sinkholes in Mexico and 11th in the world
- The Empire State Building is placed in the cave, only the upper part with the spire will be visible above the entrance
- The Cave of Swallows was used for filming some scenes in the film Sanctum.
It's easy to see why Cave of Swallows received this name. Thousands of these nimble birds have made this cave their favorite place, and there are more than one thousand such feathered inhabitants of the cave.
How to get to the cave of swallows?
Cave of Swallows located in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi. You can get there from Mexico City. The flight to Mexico City itself will cost about 30 thousand rubles, plus a Mexican visa will cost about 10 thousand. Flight Mexico City - San Louis - Potosi about 15 thousand.
The uniqueness of the cave of swallows in Mexico
The Cave of Swallows is the second deepest cave in Mexico. The cave attracts speleologists from all over the world with its unusual structure and mystery. Depth – 375 meters. From above, the cave looks like a bottomless black well. Inside the cave there are numerous different passages and holes, which to this day remain poorly studied and stimulate adventure lovers and experienced speleologists to make new discoveries.
Too much influx of tourists negatively affected the life of their feathered hosts - swallows, so it was decided to determine the time to visit the cave when there are no birds in it. The descent can be made from 12 to 16 pm. This was also done for the safety of the tourists themselves making the descent, since a collision with a bird can lead to fatal consequences.
Be careful!
It is important to remember that the cave is not only filled with cute swallows, it is a habitat for many species of snakes, spiders and scorpions, so descending into the cave without special clothing can be extremely dangerous. You can parachute into the cave of swallows. This is truly a fascinating action for those who love extreme species sports. But this activity is too dangerous for inexperienced jumpers. Such a jump must be calculated in seconds, since untimely opening of the parachute can lead to the fact that you simply collide with the cave wall and may die. The free flight time to the cave is 7 seconds.
One descent into the cave on cables takes almost 2 hours, so it can only be carried out by people who are physically prepared for this.
What else to see in San Luis Potosi?
In addition to visiting the cave of swallows, in San Luis Potosi you can take a fascinating walk around the city itself, which is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful cities Mexico, thanks to its unusual architecture. The city is famous for its beautiful San Francisco Park, central area Plaza del Carmen, where the delightful Iglesia del Carmen church, built in the Baroque style, is located.
There is an amazing natural attraction in Mexico - deep in the thickets of wet tropical forests there is a huge, deep black hole, alluring in the twilight of the unknown - this is the Cave of Swallows. In Mexico, people have known about this second deepest cave of karst origin since ancient times, but its official discovery dates back to 1966, when research was carried out and the first officially recorded data about this incredibly beautiful place appeared.
Data known to date
Many tourists who come to the Swallow Cave for an extreme holiday are not particularly impressed by the hole they see in the ground at first; they get the feeling that it is not that big, but then this opinion changes radically, because the hole deep into the earth is simply huge. The very shape of the cave creates the effect of visual deception - it is a giant “bottle”, placed with its neck to the sky, the diameter of which is not so large, only 55 meters, but the deeper you go inside the cave, the larger it becomes in width, and at a depth of 376 meters the distance from wall to wall is already 160 meters. In this huge depression in the ground, according to advertising brochures, the New York skyscraper Empire State Building can easily fit, however, if its spire is torn off. The internal volume of the Swallow Cave is more than 33,000 square meters, and the hole in the Mexican tropics is the 11th largest hole in the world in terms of its size.
The entrance to the dungeon is on a slope, and accordingly the floor is inclined, and at the very bottom there are narrow passages to much greater depths, not yet explored by speleologists.
Who is attracted to the Swallow Cave and why?
The Swallow Cave is not only an exciting place where you can enjoy an extreme pastime, but also a serious test of courage and strength even for physically well-prepared and experienced base jumpers and, of course, speleologists.
Descent is carried out in two ways: using climbing equipment or making a parachute jump. Nearby, for the convenience of tourists, a special platform was made, which is equipped with everything necessary for securing equipment.
Descent using a parachute is allowed only during certain hours - from twelve to four hours day, and the Mexicans are very strict about the implementation of this rule. Such a restriction is caused by the desire not to disrupt the usual daily routine of the feathered inhabitants, who fly out of the dungeon at noon for food, and in order to ensure the safety of people, because a collision with millions of birds trying to leave the cave can lead to tragic consequences for both people and and for winged inhabitants. The parachute jump itself into the depths of the cave goes very quickly - 10-15 seconds, but the amazing impressions of the jump and a significant release of adrenaline into the blood of the base jumper are guaranteed. Each jump is carefully planned and calculated in seconds, because a parachute not opened in time can lead to a collision with the walls of the cave and the death of the athlete, and the free flight should last no more than seven seconds.
The descent into the depths of the cave on cables takes about two hours, and the descent can only be carried out by people prepared for such a test, because many stepped passages and gentle slopes await tourists here. And going up is not an easy task and will also require a lot of time.
The cave became favorite place For fans of dungeons and extreme jumps, people come here from all over the planet, and as is usually the case, well-developed tourism in this part of Mexico has led to serious environmental pollution and has had a negative impact on the ecosystem. Environmentalists have put forward a number of restrictions for tourists and researchers, and the cave is accessible by one footpath and one paved road, accessible only by jeeps. Descent into the dungeon is allowed only in one place, next to the area intended for attaching ropeways and other equipment.
The beauty and features of the Swallow Cave
The cave delights not only with its depth, but also with its fascinating originality and beauty. The name of the cave is no coincidence; it comes from the Mexican word “golondrinas” - swallow, and in the depths of the cave live several million swallows, black swifts and Mexican aratingas, that is, parrots. Exactly at noon great amount birds fly out of the twilight and the blue sky is covered by numerous wings of birds, and in the evening, when the sun stops frying the earth with its rays, the birds return and fall down, disappearing into the depths of the dungeon. This is an unforgettable sight - birds fly down like stones, unerringly stopping at their nests.
The bottom of the cave became home and a place for food for various reptiles and insects, including snakes, spiders and scorpions, despite the fact that it was all covered with bird droppings and fragments of the walls. Being at the bottom of a dungeon without oxygen equipment and special clothing is unsafe for human life, since the smell of rotting, dark walls covered with mold and mildew, and air filled with bacteria can cause harm to health. It is also cool here, and when heavy rains fall over the tropics, noisy streams cascade into the cave. Extraordinary beauty This place prompted the directors of the film “Sanctum” to film the most striking parts of the film in that cave.
How to get to the Cave of Swallows
The Cave of Swallows can be visited in the state of San Luis Potosi, located in central Mexico, near the lush tropics. Tourists are brought to the dungeon local residents in jeeps specially equipped for this purpose. From Mexico City or the city of Monterey, you can get to the attraction by bus; the journey will take about five hours, and you will have to pay about $30 for a ticket.
Scientists discovered flying rods (so named because of their unusual oblong shape) in the Cave of Swallows back in 1996, but after several attempts to study them up close, it was decided to abandon this idea. On video, it was noticed that the “flying rods” move at a speed of 2 km per second, while they are not noticeable to the naked eye. Also, the rods do not crash into any other objects and do not receive material damage, which may indicate their non-material origin.
Photo of the Cave of Swallows in Mexico and flying rods
The researchers also rejected the plasma origin of the “rods,” since in this case such a speed could lead to fire. Scientists had no choice but to recognize the new discovery as evidence of the existence of intelligent life in a parallel world - after all, the rods do not crash into the walls, which means they have some kind of intelligence. Similar flying rods have been seen not only in the Cave of Swallows in Mexico, but also in many other parts of the globe.
What is the Cave of Swallows in Mexico
This is a 376 meter deep hole in the jungle. central regions Mexico, home to many species of birds and snakes. You can go down into the dungeon only with the help of climbing equipment. Unusual organisms were recorded in the cave during the filming of the film “Sanctum” about speleologists. They are found here most of all on the planet. This fact has led scientists to the idea that there is an entrance to a parallel world here.
However, skeptical researchers claim that the “flying rods” are just an optical illusion that appears during photography.