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Marcilhac-sur-Cele, Lot
IGN 1:25 000 Series Bleue 2138
x 559,19 y 251,48 z 145m
Location
Take the D41 from the village of Cabrerets in the direction of Figeac. Passing through Marcilhac continue for 1km to where the river Cele is very close to the road at the start of a long straight section of road.There is a well used verge with two paths leading down a steep slope to a small clearing, next to an orchard, by the river bank. This is the kitting up point. A 60 metre swim upstream leads to the cave entrance. The line is tied off to a tangle of tree branches and the entrance is in the middle of the river at 6.0m depth.
Cave description
The entrance to the cave is large and imposing and leads to 150m of large clean washed passage measuring 5-8m high by 8-12m wide. There is a junction at 170m - straight on is the deep route and to the left the shallow route.
The deep route gradually drops down to a large area of slabs. At 300m from base (depth of 22m) a large shaft is reached. Back at the junction the shallow route is a 3 to 5 metre tube which can be followed at 12m depth. Several shafts in the right hand wall connect with the deep route and although some are lined a jump line is needed as they do not connect with the shallow route line.The shallow route passage ends at the lip of a large shaft which descends to -24m and joins the deep route line. Going right at the junction leads back to the junction of deep and shallow routes making a round trip possible - usually in by the deep route out by the shallow route. Going straight on at the junction leads down a large shaft dropping via steps at -30m and -45m to a slope which drops to -55m in a huge passage. This passage continues to 1875m from base (following the roof) to a maximum depth of 77m before rising sharply to air
A short section of passage leading to a boulder pile. After passing this there is 120m of dry passage leading to a canal - a side passage leads to a downstream sump. The canal leads to sump two which is 400m long with a maximum depth of 7m - an inlet joins the passage on the right side towards the end of the sump.
The sump surfaces in a 70m long boulder chamber. A further 50m of canal leads to
Sump three which is 15m long and then a further 350m of canal leads to sump four.
Sump four is 290m long and shallow and leads to a short section of passage and then onto
Sump five. This is 1340 m long with a max depth of 25m and ends in a large boulder chock.
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