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   The cave is the longest cave system of the Czech Republic with about 17 km of passages. Together with other caves (Stará Amaterská, Punkevni, Sloupsko-Sosuvske, Stara and Nova Rasovna, Pikova dama, Spiralka and 13C Cave) it represents one unit, i.e. the system developed along the Bila voda and Sloupsky Creeks with the total length of 34.9 km. Both streams confluence underground in the cave forming the known Punkva River.
   The Stara Amaterska (Old Amateur) Cave was discovered from the Cigansky doline on January 18, 1969 by the members of the Planivy Group belonging to the Speleological Club Brno. The Nova Amaterska Cave was then discovered on August 16, 1969 from the Povodnovy (Flood) Sump at the end of the Povodnova (Flood) Passage at the end of the Stara Amaterska Cave. The discoverers visited only a part of this giant system. The exploration behind the sump continued only next year, but it was interrupted by the catastrophic flood on August 29, 1970. Milan Slechta and Marko Zahradnicek died. Since 1971, the exploration has been carried out, in 1972 even during continuous decrease of water level in the sump. During those operations, the place with the closest distance from the wall of the Pusty zleb Glenn was surveyed. The artificial gallery was excavated in 1973 solving the problem of security and easy access to the Nova Amaterska Cave. Detailed explorations and survey have been carried out since 1974. The main interest was focused to the connection of the cave with the Macocha Abbys. The connection was realized by divers in 1975 when 420 m long Predmacossky Sump with depths of 20 m was crawled through. After this solution, only the problem to connect the cave with the system of the Sloupsko-Sosuvske Caves has rested. Access from mentioned caves was unsuccessful. The exploration was after directed from the Nova Amaterska Cave upstream the Sloupsky Corridor. In 1989, divers discovered another 1,200 m of passages and passed through the 3rd sump. The next sump has not yet been conquered. After the control of the cave was obtained by caver, the exploration of chimneys and detailed survey have been carried out especially in the Sloupsky Corridor and in the Labyrinth of Milan Slechta.

Nova Amaterska cave - U Dvou Velkych (At Two Big) chamber (photo by Z. Motycka)

   The Nova Amaterska Cave is characterised by extensive tunnel-shaped passages with the variable amount of fluvial deposits and screes. The passages change sometimes into the domed spaces. Such passages represent the higher cave level at about +20 m above lower cave level, which are genetically older. The altitude difference of both cave levels diminishes towards the ponors. The resurgence part close to the Macocha Abyss and Punkevni Caves is influenced by the blocked outflow . The middle part of the system, where the confluence of both Punkva tributaries occur, the cave is rather maze-like with numerous cave levels. Numerous passages are flooded here during water highstands and the hydrological situation is rather complicated.
   The Nova Amaterska Cave can be entered through 100 m long artificial tunnel leading from the meander of the Konsky Spad into the Javorova (Maple) Passage, which continues into the Zapadni Macossky (Western Macocha) Corridor. Here, slightly to the right, the largest hall of the cave - the Absolon´s Dome - is situated. From the Dome we can continue through passage and Bahnita (Muddy) Lakes up to the active course of the Punkva River. Our downstream course will lead us to the Predmacossky Sump, which separated the Amaterska Cave from the Macocha Abyss. Upstream, the riverbed continues up to the Zadni (Back) Lake fed by the Punkva River. From this place, the Vychodni macossky (Eastern Macocha) Corridor continues by the Stupnovitá (Step-like) Passage up to the Roztoka Dome in the higher level. The Východní and Západní macošský Corridors join together in the Roztoka Dome forming 900 m long Macossky (Macocha) Corridor, which continues to the NNE. The Corridor is richly decorated by variable forms of speleothems. At its end on the left side, there are three entrances into the Bludiste (Labyrinth) of Milan Slechta. The Labyrinth represents the confluence of the Sloupsky potok and Bila voda Creeks during floods. Speleothem decoration is not so rich here due to often damages during floods. The most interesting place of the Bludiste is located around the Riceny (Collapsed) Dome. Rozlehla (Spacious) Passage represents the continuation of the Macossky Corridor. It is the greatest passage in the Moravian Karst. At U homole Dome, the passage divides into the Sloupsky Corridor and Belovodska (Bila voda) Branch. The latter, leading to the Holstejn village, continues further by collapsed Soubezna (Parallel) Passage up to the Dlouhe (Long) Lake. To cross the lake, boat must be used. The active riverbed of the Bila voda Creek will be reached behind the Lake. The Chodba samoty (Passage of loneliness) leads upstream through the largest dome of the Cave (Katedrala J.Slechty - Cathedral of J.Slechta) up to inflow Povodnovy (Flood) Sump of the Stara Amaterska Cave. From the U homole Dome, the Sloupsky Corridor leads through four lakes to the Cerny (Black) Dome with the labyrinth of passages and active stream of the Sloupsky potok Creek. The continuation is through narrow passages and Turbina (the narrowest place at the courase of the Sloupsky potok Creek,) up to the back part of the Sloupsky Corridor. It is spacious passage richly decorated by speleothems. The active riverbed will be followed along its left side terminating at inflow sumps of the Sloupsky potok Creek from lower parts of the Sloupsko-SoSuvske Caves.

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   The cave was discovered from excavated shaft in unstable scree at the margin of Bartikuv Doline situated in the right slope of the Hradsky zleb Glenn. After 14 m, the shaft ended in a huge shaft with an extensive labyrinth of domes and passages at its bottom at -67 m below the surface. The flood riverbed of the Bila voda Creek between the Nova Rasovna Cave and the Macocha Abyss was reached by the group of. M. Kala in 1954 to 1958. In 1982, the members of the Planivy Group of the Speleological Club Brno newly opened the collapsed entrance shaft. One year later, they are pumping several times in upstream direction of the Bila voda Creek. The Discodome and huge Ricni (River) Passage were discovered. The exploration had stopped by the Belgicky (Belgian) Sump. After it was passed through, the Passage of Potapecu (Divers) terminated by the Macossky Sump were discovered. The sump was passed by divers in 1988 by narrow fissures from the Nova Rasovna Cave. Important discoveries of upper levels were made in 1983 (levels above Modry /Blue/ Chimney), in 1991 (levels in the Patecni /Friday/ Shaft, and in 1993 (system of Kalvarie /Calvaria/ behind the Glozaruv /Glozar´s/ Chimney).

Decoration in upper level of Modry (Blue) chimney

   The entrance, 20 m deep shaft (constructed of concrete cylindrical segments) leads to fissure-shaped small passage by which the roof of 40 m deep Ustredni (Central) Shaft can be reached. The connecting passage with the Pikova dama Cave (Spojnice Passage) is situated in the half of the shaft. The shaft bottom is formed by scree cone descending to the level of Jezirko (Lake) - i.e. to the entrance to the sump between the Pikova dama and Spiralka Caves. On the other side, the cone descends to the beginning of the Tunelova (Tunnel) Passage. The complex labyrinth of passages around the Patecni (Friday) Shaft and Fetanka Shaft is situated above the Jezirko. The bottom of the Fetanka Shaft is the level of sump lake between the Spiralka and 13C Caves. The Tunelova Passage continues up to the Odtokovy (Outflow) Sump ant the end of flood riverbed of the Bila voda Creek. Varhany (Organs), the largest speleothem form of the Spiralka Cave, is situated above the sump. Balvanita (Boulder) Passage with the Rotunda continues upstream of the Bila voda Creek. The Pritokovy (Inflow) Sump is situated about 10 m lower to the S. There, the new connection of the cave towards the Nova Rasovna Cave was found with the help of pumping. The first two domed spaces - Discodom and U prepadu (At overflow) Dome - has an ascending character. Their bottoms are covered by large limestone blocks. Narrow descending and meandering passages continues further to the Dome U 12 prasat (Dome at 12 pigs), where terminates by the Belgicky (Belgian) Sump. High and narrow Passage of Potapecu (Divers) continues behind the sump up to the Macossky Sump of the Nova Rasovna Cave. The total length of the Spiralka cave is about 1,800 m. The cave is equipped by fix steel ladders.

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   The cave (Lady of Spades Cave) is situated near the closure wall of the semi-blind Holstejnske Valley. It is old ponor of the Bila voda Creek. The ponor is abandoned, only its lowest part can be sometimes flooded. Cavers from the Planivy Group of the Speleological Club Brno excavated 14 m deep pit. On January 6, 1964, they discovered large shaft-like cave descending in two steps down to flood level of the Bila voda Creek at the level of -61 m below the surface. The cave consists of unusual labyrinth of passages, shafts, domes, halls and lakes. Decoration is relatively scarce, and it is preserved only in the upper parts. Some parts are filled with ice (Ledova Passage) owing to the special air dynamics. he connection with the nearby Spiralka (Spiral) Cave was discovered in 1968. Cave divers connected both caves in 1979 by passing the sump between both caves. The total length of the cave is 1,700 m. The cave is closely related to Cave of Krizovy Kluk and Ledova (Ice) Cave of the Stara Rasovna Cave. The entrance shaft (composed of concrete cylindrical segments) opens after 12 m into the Zriceny (Collapsed) Dome with the bottom at -20 m. At this level, the complex labyrinth of passages constitutes the upper level of the cave - Vanocni (Christmas) Passage and Stredni patra (Middle levels). The bottom of the Zriceny Dome is connected with 27 m deep shaft of Studna (Well) by a narrow fissure. The Studna leads directly to the lake (6 by 10 m) at the bottom of flood Goticka (Gothic) Passage. After 50 m, the Passage terminates by a sump between the Pikova dama Cave and Spiralka Cave in the U Kyvadla (At Pendulum) Dome. Above the sump, there is an extensive overflow system connecting another large spaces lying at the level of the Gothic Passage. The complex, about 250 m long passage at 10 to 35 m above water level, is a part of the system enabling the connection of both caves. The Ledova (Ice) Passage is situated about 4 m above the bottom of the Studna. The passage is ascending in steps terminating by huge limestone blocks in the space of the Stará Rasovna Cave. System of vertical shafts and passages connects the passage with upper levels of the cave. Steps and shafts are equipped by steel ladders with rope railings.

Entrance shaft - Studna (the Well)

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   The cave is situated at the margin of rocky doline in the right slope of the Hradsky zleb Glenn between gamekeeper´s lodge and partings of roads U kastanu. The cave was discovered in 1964 by members of the Planivy Group descend 11 m deep entrance shaft to the mouth of 45 m deep shaft with the active course of the Bila voda Creek at the bottom (Dome of Halucinaci /Hallucination/). For the first time in the Moravian Karst, one of the tributaries of the Punkva River was found between its ponor in the Nova Rasovna Cave and resurgence in the Macocha Abyss. Diving exploration proved, that there are extensive flooded sumps. Jiri Slechta died during such exploration. After his dead, the explorations were carried out by professionals. They realized the program of blasting of roofs of sumps downstream. The works were stopped after the discovery of the Amaterska Cave in 1970, when 80 m from the Dome of Halucinaci were made accessible. At the present time is accessible 800 m of riverbed downstream toward the Amaterska cave.

Shipping on the Bila Voda (White Water) creek

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   Cave drains waters of the Planivsky potok Creek entrenched into the small valley on the Planivska Plateu between Holstejn and Lipovec villages. The system was discovered in 1943 to 1944 by the group of O. Ondrousek. In 1961, the system was prolonged by the Planivy Group by the discovery of the IVth meanders behind the Planivy Window terminated by muddy semi-sump. The sediment was mined with great troubles another 40 m up to the Sump of Smrti (Dead), which finally stopped the progress in a liquid mud. The cave is characterised by long and hardly accessible vertical fissures and meanders entrenched by the Planivsky potok Creek. Planivy cave belongs to caves with most problematic accessibility in the Moravian Karst. The Hlinity (Loamy) Dome, 25 m high, is the only larger space in the first half of the cave. Rich decoration is visible especially in Stribrne (Silver) Domes. The system has a length of about 500 m with the depth of 90 m.

View from Planivy cave