The aura of Bulgarian pot-holers has always been interesting. We have hot news this time as well. A few days ago Alexey Zhalov returned from yet another speleological expedition in Albania, while a month earlier he had taken part in an international research of artificial caves along the Euphrates River in Turkey. The man has been a long-time deputy chair of the Bulgarian Speleology Federation, a deputy secretary-general of the European Speleological Federation, a president of the Balkan Speleological Union etc. Mr. Zhalov has written 5 books. Here is what he says on the newly established Bulgarian Caving Society:

“This is a new idea. We established it on 28 March 2015. We are a bunch of old and experienced speleologists and we decided to create a new national society, giving a new direction in the area of cave research. The organization is based on two principles: individual membership of speleologists and membership of caving clubs. We have already carried out several researches in Bulgaria, we have also participated in events outside it, such as a congress on artificial caves in Rome. We are now looking forward to an action, organized by colleagues from the Prista caving club – Ruse. We will clean the islands along the Danube River. There are some 10 caves near the town of Ruse, alongside the riverbank – we will reach those by boats and will research them."

Furthermore, in September 6 representatives of the society will participate in an expedition in Iran, while Bulgaria has invited 6 Chinese pot-holers. The Bulgarian caving Society is currently preparing a Cooperation Memorandum with the Earth and Man National Museum, as the idea is a national speleological library to be created there. At the same time the society’s members are working actively on a law on caves that has been discussed for over a decade now, but with no result. Many Bulgarian caves will be ruined with a feeling of impunity in case such a law is not adopted.

Here is more from Alexey Zhalov on the common initiatives of the Balkan speleologists:

“The 10^th edition of the Balkan Cavers Camp will take place this year – it is the main activity of that union. It has currently 9 members, only Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina haven’t joined us so far. Greek speleologists gave the idea for an organized group for the research of caves that are also archaeological sites in the Balkans. Nearly all Balkan countries joined the group. There is a website and the goal is a serious database to be created for these sites. Whenever there are major speleological events within the different Balkan states, the organizers invite their neighboring colleagues. Thus in August and September there will be an expedition of Greek and Serbian speleologists in the Pirin Mountain’s Banski Suhodol circus. At the same time Bulgarians will visit the Crete Island, where one of the deepest abysses there will be surveyed – it is some 800 m deep. Turkish pot-holers will participate as well.”

Alexey says that Albania is his big cave passion. He visited the state back in 1991 for a first time. He also feels the warm attitude of people there. On July 4 – 11 he participated in another research, when two caves where explored and mapped in the eastern part of the country.