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SPELEO CAMPS 

    

SC1 - Pumping Flooded Caves

Regatinho cave is a temporary spring on the border of Minde polje. Known passages are about 1 km long. Active and semi-active passages are blocked by hanging sumps. The possibilities of connection to Lomba and to Almonda caves exist (distant 2 and 7 km, respectively).

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Pumping in Regatinho cave two decades ago

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Fossil passage beyond sump in Regatinho cave

Dates: 4 - 10 October
Participants: 10 persons. For beginners and good cavers
Lodging: Wild camping
Price: 50 Euro (including carbide and non-personal equipment)
Co-ordinators: Luís Miguel Lopes, Nuno Frade, VL


SC2 - Digging spring and ponors entrances

Vila Moreira is a temporary spring between the main exsurgences of Almonda and Alviela (winter discharges of about 20 m3/s). The entrance must be dug with blasting techniques. Walls and roof of opened hollows must be sustained. The blocs produced are to be removed.
Minde polje bottom has some interesting ponors with proved connections with this and other important springs. Passages do exist but must be enlarged.

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Tracer test in Algarões sinkhole, Minde polje

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Linked Vila Moreira spring during tracer test

Dates: 4 - 10 October
Participants: 10 persons. For endurated faithful cavers
Lodging: Wild camping
Price: 50 Euro (including carbide and non-personal equipment)
Co-ordinators: JF, AO,


SC3 - Rescue Tyroliennes

Discussion and practice on the new techniques of tyroliennes and application to rescue manoeuvres. Underground and surface exercises.

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"The Fault Passage" to be equiped with tyroliennes

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Instaling the head of a tyrolienne in Moinhos Velhos cave

Dates: 4 - 7 October
Participants: 10 persons. For good and self-sufficient cavers
Lodging: Wild camping
Price: 50 Euro (including carbide and non-personal equipment)
Co-ordinators: Paulo Almeida,


SC4 - Diving under - 100 metres

Diving in Alviela trunk passage 500 metres long, the more important Portuguese karst spring, it is possible to reach depth under - 100 metres, beyond the terminus of French and Portuguese divers. The dives begin close to the entrance. Please define kind of mixture. Any different mixture than air will be subject of additional charge. Ask for details

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Alviela spring in flood

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P. Gajek (Poland), Ph. Moya (France) and
J. Melo (Portugal) diving in Alviela

Dates: 4 - 10 October
Participants: To arrange according to the main interests. For experienced divers.
Lodging: Wild camping near the entrance.
Price: 50 Euro (including compressed air)
Co-ordinators: Piotr Gajek, JF, OM


SC5 - Diving shallow sumps

Diving several short and shallow sumps in Cova da Velha cave. It has a straight horizontal passage more than 1 km long beyond which exploration is to be continued. Auxiliary transportation of equipment is necessary. The entrance hangs 100 m above the end of rural road.

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Waterfall from Cova da Velha spring

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Cova da Velha entrance and Fornea wall

Dates: 4 - 10 October
Participants: To arrange according to the main interests. For less experienced divers (possibly with families)
Lodging: Wild camping about 500 m from the entrance
Price: 50 Euro (including compressed air)
Co-ordinators: Piotr Gajek, JF, OM


SC6 - Visits and Exploration of Selected Caves

List of caves of possible visit:

G1 - Olho da Mata: horizontal cave (300 metres) with some narrow passages.

G2 - Pena da Falsa: horizontal cave more than 2 km long with several narrow passages and climbing traverses. Very hard cave.

G3 - Almonda: Complex cave system more than 10 km long developing near the phreatic level.

G4 - Olho de Mira: Descending large passage about 100 m deep with no shafts or squeezes.

G5 - Pena Traseira: Vertical cave with a 130 m deep pit.

G6 - Arroteia: cave with a river at - 50 m

G7 - Gralhas VII: Fossil passages after a pit of 70 m.

G8 - Lomba: Nearly 2 km of horizontal passages with some difficult points. Entrance shaft 80 m deep.

G9 - Contenda: Two levels of passages 1.5 km long separated by pits 50 m deep. A river flows within the large bottom passage.

G10 - Moinhos Velhos: Complex cave system nearly 8 km long and 200 m deep. Several pits less than 40 m deep.

G11 - Malhada: Entrance pit 50 m deep over fossil passages 300 m long.

G12 - Marrada I: Three levels cave 120 m deep.

G13 - Ladoeiro: Large upper passage with pits 150 m deep.

G14 - Manga Larga: Vertical cave with a few narrow vertical passages to a depth of about 150 m.

G15 - Chou Jorge: Several pits reaching the depth of 120 m.

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Calcite flowstone in Gralhas VII cave

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Olho de Mira main passage with old laying of water pipes

Dates: 4 - 10 October
Participants: 20 persons. For beginners to good cavers
Lodging: a) Camping site; b) rural house
Price (including: lodging a) or b), carbide, non-personal equipment and transportation in the region): a) 160 Euro; b) 210 Euro
Co-ordinators: PC, PMA, AS, JG


SC7 - Photographic Safaris

Groups of cavers dedicated to improved studied photography can visit some particular caves from the list of "selected caves" (Camp SC6).

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Tiny calcite dams in Almonda cave
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Eccentric stalactite in cave near Mira de Aire

Dates: 4 - 10 October
Participants: 10 persons. For beginners to good cavers
Lodging: a) ;Camping site; b) rural house
Price (including: lodging a) or b), carbide, non-personal equipment and transportation in the region): a) 160 Euro; b) 210 Euro
Co-ordinators: PMA, SP, FR

Fotos: J. A. Crispim


Geographical characteristics:
  • Region of median altitudes (100 - 500 metres asl)
  • Mild climate
  • Exterior air temperature: 15 – 25 ºC
  • Interior air temperature: 15 – 18 ºC
  • Water temperature: about 15 ºC

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