Emil Racoviță Cave

The cave at Criva, named for the Romanian biospeleologist Emil Racoviță, is a maze of gypsum passages in Moldova's far northwest with tens of kilometres of surveyed galleries, which puts it among the largest gypsum cave systems in the world. Underground lakes in the deeper sections are coloured by mineral content. The entrance lies within a working quarry and access is controlled, with visits arranged through speleological groups rather than as tourism.

What you actually see

• The gypsum maze - tens of kilometres of surveyed galleries in the system.
• The coloured lakes - the underground water tinted by mineral content.
• The scale - among the largest gypsum cave systems recorded anywhere.
• The quarry entrance - the working excavation the way in runs through.

When to go

The cave temperature is constant year round. Visits must be arranged in advance and are not routine. Access depends on the quarry and on permission.

Honest expectations

This is not a show cave: there is no lighting, no path and no casual access, and visits are arranged through caving groups with permission. Quarrying has damaged parts of the system. Anyone unprepared for genuine caving should not attempt it.

Nearby

Otaci is east, and Naslavcea is northeast.