Several caves, including the Pál Valley and Szemlő Hill Caves, were renovated in the Buda Hills, Pilis and Börzsöny by the Danube-Ipoly National Park.
The directorate of the national park implemented a project entitled Protection and Presentation of Geological Values and Bat Species in the Caves of the Pilis Biosphere Reserve and the Buda Thermal Karst, a World Heritage Site, with the help of a total of HUF 211.9 million, the Danube-Ipoly National Park.
According to the announcement, one of the main goals of the project was to modernize the lighting equipment of the two highly protected tourist caves, the Pál Valley and the Szemlő-hegyi Caves.
As a result of the development, the rotten protective railings and retaining walls, established 20 years ago, were renovated in the quarry of the Pál Valley Cave. There is also a cave playground for children visiting here. They also fenced the surface of the cave and transported the illegally dumped waste.
In the reception building of the Szemlő-hegyi-cave, the exhibition space was renewed and expanded with many interactive and experiential elements, and a 3D projector was established in the lecture hall, where a short film about the caves of Buda can be viewed.
Audioguides were also purchased for the Pál Valley and Szemlő Mountain Caves, as well as leaflets in eight languages.
The other main objective of the project was to preserve the eight caves in the Buda and Pilis mountains and an artificial cavity in Börzsöny and to restore the habitats.
The goal was achieved by securing, building, closing the entrances, fixing ladders and ropes; all of which provide professionals with the opportunity to regularly monitor the condition of the caves and the bat population. As a result of the measures taken to improve the nature conservation situation, the condition of the affected habitats has improved in 5564 hectares, the national park reported.
Those interested in hiking and nature can also get to know the caves in the Danube-Ipoly National Park, which can be visited by anyone, with the help of a new subpage - https://www.dunaipoly.hu/hu/barlangleso.
(Source: marmalade.co.hu; MTI | Image: pixabay.com)