Scărișoara Ice Cave

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## A Subterranean Ice Giant in the Heart of the Apuseni Mountains Scărișoara Ice Cave shelters the largest underground glacier in Romania, a natural monument declared a speleological reserve in 1938. Located at an altitude of 1,165 meters on the Ghețari-Ocoale karst plateau, the cave formed in Jurassic limestone through the dissolution of rocks by subterranean waters. The ice block, with a volume of 80,000 cubic meters and an age of over 4,000 years, is annually replenished by new layers of snow and ice, preserving climatic and ecological histories of the past millennia within its strata. ## A Window into Geological and Climatic History Scientifically discovered in the 19th century, the cave was studied by pioneers of Romanian speleology such as Emil Racoviță and Al. Borza. Recent research, based on ice cores, has revealed valuable data about the climate over the last 4,000 years, historical fires, and gold mining in the Apuseni Mountains during the Dacian period. The cave is accessed through an impressive aven with a diameter of 60 meters, descended via metal stairs anchored in the rock. The Great Hall, with its floor formed by the glacier’s surface, and the Church, featuring perennial ice stalagmites, are the main areas accessible to the public. ## Access and Visitor Recommendations The cave is located in Gârda de Sus commune, 32 kilometers upstream from Câmpeni. Access is possible via the paved road along the Ordâncușa Valley (23 km) or the marked hiking trail with a red cross (10 km), which also offers the opportunity to explore other attractions in the area. Visitors can admire the ice formations in the Great Hall and the Church, while those interested in speleology can learn more about cavernicolous fauna, such as the beetle *Pholeuon proserpinae glaciale* or the *Rupicapra* skeleton discovered in the scientific reserve. Local legend says that the water from the basins near the "La Brazi" formation grants the wishes of those who drink it with faith. The cave is open year-round, and for large groups, a local guide is recommended.