Sablin caves and waterfalls - how to get there

On the territory of the Leningrad region there is an amazing natural monument - Sablin caves. The village of Sablino (now Ulyanovka) is located in the Tosno District, forty kilometers from St. Petersburg. Here, in an area of two hundred and twenty hectares, there are ancient canyons of the Tosna and Sablinka rivers, rocks of Ordovician and Cambrian rocks, two waterfalls, ancient burial mounds.

In the past, the Sablin caves were mines. Even in the nineteenth century, quartz sand was mined here . It was used for cooking Imperial crystal. During the years of work, a huge volume of rocks was extracted from under the earth, and thanks to this a complex underground labyrinth appeared. Then the cave's finish was continued by nature - ground lakes and rivers appeared, stalactites appeared on the ceilings. In 1976, this territory was recognized as a natural monument.

Sablin caves: how to get

If you want to see this unique place, then you can come here by car. Leave on the Moskovskoe highway and go along it to the sign "Ulyanovka", then follow the signs "Sablinsky nature monument".

There is another way to visit the Sablin caves. How do I get there by train? At the Moskovsky railway station, take the train to Sablino station. From here go buses and buses to the Sablin caves.

Features and uniqueness

First of all, it is necessary to say about the unusual relief of this area. Here, on a flat terrain, along with two waterfalls and caves, two canyons of the Sablinka and Tosna rivers were formed. As a rule, this happens only in mountainous areas.

Scientists and researchers have registered here fourteen caves - eleven in the canyon of Tosna and three in the Sablinka valley. In the latter case, there are underground passages with a length of ten to fifteen meters. They are very narrow and partially buried. They are called fox holes.

On the banks of the Tosna River, near Grafsky Bridge, there are two caves. The left bank has a length of labyrinths more than five and a half kilometers, and Pearl - more than three and a half kilometers. In the caves there are three underground lakes three meters deep. The walls of the caves are covered with red sandstone, and the arches - glauconite limestone.

The Cave Levoberezhnaya

The most interesting not only for tourists, but also for scientists and researchers is the cave, which only recently had a very unattractive name - Pomoyka. So it was called because of a banal dump, arranged over it and along it. Time passed, all the garbage was removed, the vaults of the cave were strengthened - and the former mine, and now the cave, became known as the Left Bank.

Its length is more than 300 meters. Today, accompanied by an experienced guide is an excursion to Sablin caves, and in particular to the left bank. Here you will see large and beautiful rooms with original names: Dome or Star, Little Red Riding Hood, Hall of the Underground King, Big Space, Column and Jubilee.

You can see the deposits of the Ordovician and Cambrian seas. You will be shown a cat's laz. You can climb on it only lying down, while keeping your hands along the body.

The temperature of the air in the cave all the year round is plus eight degrees. Flocks of bats live in it. If you visit the cave in winter, you will see them asleep. On white stones, butterflies sleep in winter.

An excursion to the Sablin caves takes place along several routes. The most popular of them is a bus trip to two waterfalls, a canyon of the Tosna River and a visit to the left-bank cave. The route takes two and a half hours, of which forty-five minutes tourists spend in the cave. Excursion programs have different themes and are created not only for adult visitors, but also for schoolchildren. They will be useful in studying natural history and geography.

Thousands of tourists who visited the Sablin caves, the reviews leave enthusiastic. Excursions are informative, allow you to feel like a real speleologist.

Legends and myths

For many years, the inhabitants of Sablino tell the legend of the White Speleologist. As they say, once here the explorer of caves died, and his spirit settled in this place to eternally protect the beauty of the underworld. According to the legend, he is very kind to disciplined cave visitors, and if they break stalactites, throw garbage, wake bats, etc., he can severely punish violators - cause a collapse, lead into a closed labyrinth.

Sablinsky caves store one more secret. There is a legend that at the very beginning of the twentieth century V. Lenin was hiding in these caves. He was accompanied by a man who knew secret passages, and he helped Vladimir Ilyich to get out through the distant exit. This move tried to find many speleologists, but without success.

Dissidents under the ground

From 1982 to 1984 Sablin caves "sheltered" in their labyrinths about three hundred people, united in groups and teams. Some of them submitted to strict military discipline, others walked independently, not adhering to any groups. As they thought, it was the abode of freedom. Having plenty of playing, the participants of this strange action wandered off to their homes.

Interest of scientists

In the near future Sablin caves will become a place where a unique scientific experiment will be conducted. One of the underground galleries will be completely isolated from the outside world. Scientists want to observe the natural course of natural processes that occur under the earth. Many will ask: "Why will the experiment be conducted in the Sablin caves?"

It's all about a special microclimate. As you already know, throughout the year the temperature here is stable - eight degrees of heat. In the caves there is such an atmospheric regime that the Christmas tree set here to the New Year, remained in its original form for almost twelve months.

Waterfalls

Sablin caves, waterfalls attract a large number of tourists to the village. And it's not only our compatriots, but also foreign guests. Formed in the plain waterfalls - this is an amazing joke of nature. True, their height is not great, but it's not so important.

The Tosna River is older than the Neva. It appeared seven to eight thousand years ago. Its ancient canal is traced under the waters of the Gulf of Finland. In 1884, the construction of a 30-kilometer canal was started (it was completed in the year nineteen nine). He traveled from Kronstadt to the mouth of the Neva. The channel was created for the passage of deep-seated naval vessels along it. It exists and is successfully operated today.

Tosnensky Falls is the widest in Europe. Its width reaches thirty meters, and the height varies in different years from two to three and a half meters. In the canyon of Tosna, between the terraces located at different levels, there are many small streams running down limestone slabs.

Sablinsky waterfall is slightly lower. Its height does not exceed two and a half meters. From the canyon in front of you will open a stunning view of the streams of water streaming down. As a rule, all tours are completed by visiting this place.

Sablin caves and waterfalls are a unique natural complex that must be seen by everyone who comes to St. Petersburg.

Tips for tourists

An excursion to the Sablin caves presupposes the availability of special equipment (helmets, lanterns, etc.). They are given out by the instructor, and tourists themselves should take care of the closed and waterproof footwear on a firm sole, which would not slip on the stones. Clothes should be light, but warm.

Listen carefully before the instructor's excursion and carefully follow the safety rules that he will tell you.

In the caves there are a lot of bats. These are protected animals. If you get on a tour in winter, then remember that they can not be blinded by the light of a flashlight, touching them, waking up.

It is not worth risking and falling under the ground to children under five, to elderly people, as well as to all who suffer from hypertension, claustrophobia, heart and vascular diseases.

Remember that mobile communication in caves is completely absent. So keep up with your group - it's easy enough to get lost in caves. There are cases when people wandered through the labyrinths for several days until they were found by rescuers.

Conclusion

Today you learned what it is - Sablin caves. How to get there, we told, so do not waste time, come to see this unique natural monument. The trip will not disappoint you, and you will be satisfied with the opportunity to admire the beauties of the underworld. Sablin caves and waterfalls will not leave anyone indifferent.