Now the water table has dropped and the spectacular eroded shapes of the dolomite can be seen as one walks through a vast chamber to an under ground lake which fills other extensive caves beneath its surface.
Its tranquil, crystal-clear waters extend some distance into unexplored chambers.
Several interesting dripstone formations are to be seen; although, sadly, many of the cave's more spectacular stalactites and stalagmites were removed or damaged by early limestone-mining activities.
In one part of the cave, visited by tourists, is a portion of an ancient consolidated infill that collapsed about 2 million years ago from an older and higher cave.
Above this infill is a long shaft which leads up to massive deposits which are currently being excavated by scientists.
Other deposits being worked in one part of the underground cave system date back to 3 million years.
