Devetashka Cave: A Journey Through Time and Nature

Devetashka Cave, also known as Maarata or Oknata, is located 18 kilometers northeast of Lovech, near the village of Devetaki in Bulgaria. This impressive karst cave boasts a history stretching back 70,000 years, with evidence of human habitation since the Early Stone Age. The cave has provided shelter and resources for humans throughout various historical eras. The cave's entrance measures 35 meters wide and 30 meters high, leading into a spacious hall. The interior expands to approximately 2,400 square meters, with ceilings soaring up to 60 meters in some areas. Seven openings in the ceiling allow sunlight to penetrate, illuminating the interior and fostering plant growth, creating a unique and captivating environment. Inside, you'll find two main fields branching from the central hall. A small river flows through the left field, eventually connecting with the Osam River. The right field is warmer and drier, leading to a gallery known as the Altar. The cave is home to 11 underground lakes and diverse wildlife, including over 30,000 bats from various species. While the cave offers stunning natural formations, it also bears traces of its past uses. In the 1950s, the Bulgarian army utilized the cave as a storage site for petroleum, leaving concrete bases that once supported oil tanks. More recently, the cave served as a filming location for "The Expendables 2" in 2011, which led to environmental concerns and a temporary decline in the bat population. Declared a natural landmark on June 7, 1996, Devetashka Cave is now protected. Visitors can explore the cave's interior, marvel at its geological formations, and appreciate its historical and ecological significance.