Dan yr Ogof
Encyclopedia
Dan yr Ogof is a 17 kilometres (10.6 mi) long cave
system in south Wales
, five miles north of Ystradgynlais
and fifteen miles south west of Brecon
within the Brecon Beacons National Park. It is the main feature of a show cave
complex (advertised as The National Showcaves Centre for Wales) which is claimed to be the largest in Europe
and is one of the major tourist attractions in Wales. The first section of the cave system is open to the public, but the extensive cave system beyond is scheduled as a National Nature Reserve
and is open only to bona-fide cavers.
The bones of some 42 humans, as well as numerous animal bones, have been found in one of the nearby chambers of this cave system. In a 2005 poll
of Radio Times
readers, Dan yr Ogof was named as the greatest natural wonder in Britain.
. The Morgan brothers' initial expedition was halted at a large lake, which they later managed to cross by coracle
. They eventually crossed three more lakes in the same manner, but were stopped by a tight crawl.
This squeeze, known as the Long Crawl, was first passed by Eileen Davies, a member of Swansea University
Caving Club in 1963, although it is claimed that it was first passed by Peter Ogden of the same Club in the October before. The initials 'PO' were found by Eileen Davies at the pitch to Gerard Platten Hall. Peter Ogden had not descended the pitch due to a period of bad weather. Exploration has been steadily continued by later cavers
who have extended the cave to its present 11 mile length. Some of this length was reached by cave diving
. One of these explorers was Martyn Farr
, who wrote a book about the system in which he claims that the system will eventually be extended to at least 150 kilometres (93.2 mi).
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
system in south Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, five miles north of Ystradgynlais
Ystradgynlais
Ystradgynlais is a town on the River Tawe in south west Powys; it is the second largest town in Powys, Wales. The town grew around the iron-making, coal-mining and watch-making industries....
and fifteen miles south west of Brecon
Brecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
within the Brecon Beacons National Park. It is the main feature of a show cave
Show cave
Show caves — also called tourist caves, public caves, and in the United States, commercial caves — are caves that are managed by a government or commercial organization and made accessible to the general public, usually for an entrance fee...
complex (advertised as The National Showcaves Centre for Wales) which is claimed to be the largest in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and is one of the major tourist attractions in Wales. The first section of the cave system is open to the public, but the extensive cave system beyond is scheduled as a National Nature Reserve
National Nature Reserve
For details of National nature reserves in the United Kingdom see:*National Nature Reserves in England*National Nature Reserves in Northern Ireland*National Nature Reserves in Scotland*National Nature Reserves in Wales...
and is open only to bona-fide cavers.
The bones of some 42 humans, as well as numerous animal bones, have been found in one of the nearby chambers of this cave system. In a 2005 poll
Opinion poll
An opinion poll, sometimes simply referred to as a poll is a survey of public opinion from a particular sample. Opinion polls are usually designed to represent the opinions of a population by conducting a series of questions and then extrapolating generalities in ratio or within confidence...
of Radio Times
Radio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
readers, Dan yr Ogof was named as the greatest natural wonder in Britain.
Exploration
The cave was first explored by two local brothers in 1912, Tommy and Jeff Morgan, using candles and primitive equipment. Completely unsure of what they would discover, they armed themselves with a revolverRevolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
. The Morgan brothers' initial expedition was halted at a large lake, which they later managed to cross by coracle
Coracle
The coracle is a small, lightweight boat of the sort traditionally used in Wales but also in parts of Western and South Western England, Ireland , and Scotland ; the word is also used of similar boats found in India, Vietnam, Iraq and Tibet...
. They eventually crossed three more lakes in the same manner, but were stopped by a tight crawl.
This squeeze, known as the Long Crawl, was first passed by Eileen Davies, a member of Swansea University
Swansea University
Swansea University is a university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Swansea University was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. In 1996, it changed its name to the University of Wales Swansea following structural changes...
Caving Club in 1963, although it is claimed that it was first passed by Peter Ogden of the same Club in the October before. The initials 'PO' were found by Eileen Davies at the pitch to Gerard Platten Hall. Peter Ogden had not descended the pitch due to a period of bad weather. Exploration has been steadily continued by later cavers
Caving
Caving—also occasionally known as spelunking in the United States and potholing in the United Kingdom—is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems...
who have extended the cave to its present 11 mile length. Some of this length was reached by cave diving
Cave diving
Cave diving is a type of technical diving in which specialized equipment is used to enable the exploration of caves which are at least partially filled with water. In the United Kingdom it is an extension of the more common sport of caving, and in the United States an extension of the more common...
. One of these explorers was Martyn Farr
Martyn Farr
Martyn Farr is a leading exploratory cave diver and caver, known for his record breaking cave dives and the exploration of many miles of previously undiscovered underground passages...
, who wrote a book about the system in which he claims that the system will eventually be extended to at least 150 kilometres (93.2 mi).