Scientists and specialists described the Puerta Cave as a “wonder of the world” and an “international benchmark” at the 50th Anniversary celebrations last week.
There are 800 metres of visitable space in the cave but, according to scientists, “it is incalculable how much there is yet to discover.”
The formations in the cave, one of the archeological gems of the region of Murcia, are the result of “hypogene mineralization” (formations formed vertically from underground rivers full of minerals). The formations found in the cave, and in some other caves in Murcia including the Sima de la Higuera in Pliego, are unique in Europe and rare in the world.
On Friday the first event in a series of events to mark the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the cave was an exhibition of the formations and discoveries made in the Sima de la Higuera cave in Pliego.
Attending the event were José Vélez (Mayor of Calasparra), Pedro Noguera (Mayor of Pliego), Andrés Ros (investigator from CERM-Naturaleza) and Andrés Hurtado (Presidente of the Potholing Federation of Murcia).
Andrés Ros explained that there were “very rare crystal formations” which were “spectacular and very abundant” and also, thanks to the presence of iron amongst the minerals, some were orange in colour.
The Mayor of Calasparra said it had taken “ a lot of work since 1995 to arrive at where we are now.”
He underlined the international importance of the caves and said: “We want the whole world to come and see the treasures we have in the region.”
“The Puerto Cave and the Sima de la Higuera are wonders of the world and they get better every day. Everyone should see them.”
