For the second consecutive year, Amorgos has been transformed into a center for speleological and geological research, thanks to the “Amorgos Cave Expedition 2025“, which took place in September on the Cycladic island.
This year, four previously unknown caves were discovered and mapped, revealing the island’s remarkable geological history, while the team continued the exploration of a 132-meter-deep cave -the deepest one in the Cyclades- discovered during last year’s mission. The cave, discovered thanks to information provided by a French hiker from Amorgos, has been named “Vothonas tou Gallou“, meaning “The Frenchman’s chasm” in the local Greek dialect.
During this year’s expedition, another impressive part of this cave was discovered. The very low concentrations of carbon dioxide measured inside the cave led speleologists to believe that it has other entrances connecting to the outside, rather than just one.
The four caves discovered this year are vertical chasms called vothones in to the local dialect of Amorgos, with depths ranging from 28 to 62 meters. The caves are of significant geological and speleological interest, with varied and impressive geological formations inside. Overall, Amorgos is an island rich in caves, with more than 25 known caves, but there is evidence of numerous more unexplored caves.
The team that participated in the mission mapped and photographed the four new caves in detail using state-of-the-art technology and collected data on the microclimatology and hydrology of the caves, radon and carbon dioxide, while also recording the presence of fossils of animal species that were probably endemic. It is clear that the discovery of these four new caves provides crucial information about the geological history and groundwater of Amorgos.
The expedition brought together 17 scientists from the School of Geology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, along with speleologists and amateur cave explorers from all over Greece, particularly Thessaloniki, the Peloponnese, Kavala, Athens, and Crete. Much of their time there was spent making contact with and gathering information from the locals: since the caves are difficult to locate due to their often hidden access points, the team needed the help of locals, who were willing to report the existence of unexplored caves.
This year’s mission was particularly ambitious. Participants methodically catalogued new caves, cleaned up the “Vothonas tou Chora” (Cave of Chora, the island’s capital), and carried out valuable geological studies that highlight the unique nature of the island’s geological heritage. All of this is part of a systematic research effort, which, with the support of the municipality of Amorgos, protects the island’s natural wealth.
Read also via Greek News Agenda: Caves of Greece; Caves of Kastania and Agios Nikolaos Geopark; The spectacular Diros Caves
Translated from the original article from Grèce Hebdo (Main source of information, intro photo: Athens – Macedonian News Agency)
TAGS: GREEK ISLANDS
