Gouffre Jean-Bernard

Gouffre Jean-Bernard or Réseau Jean Bernard, sometimes known simply as Jean Bernard, is one of the deepest caves known in the world. It is in the Alps in Samoëns, France. The first entrance to the cave was found by the French caving group Groupe Vulcain in 1963.[2] More entrances have been found over the years since, and currently at least thirteen are known. The highest entrance, known as C37, is at 2,274 m (7,461 ft) above sea level.[1]. The cave is named after Jean Dupont and Bernard Raffy, two Groupe Vulcain members who died in 1963 in an unrelated expedition.[3]

Gouffre Jean-Bernard
LocationSamoëns
Coordinates46°6′6″N 6°46′50″E
Depth1,626 m (5,335 ft)[1]
Length25,819 metres (16.043 mi)[1]
Discovery1963
GeologyCretaceous limestone
Entrancesabout 13
Cave surveyGroup Volcain

Exploration

Exploration of the cave began shortly after discovery in 1963. By 1969, the cave had been explored to a depth of 623 metres (2,044 ft) below the level of the highest entry point.[2] At that point, further exploration was blocked by a water-filled tunnel.

Subsequently, another entrance was discovered that had passages that bypassed the flooded tunnel. The cave was explored to 938 m (3,077 ft) before again becoming blocked, this time by fallen rocks.[2] In 1976, these rocks were removed, allowing explorers to descend to 1,298 m (4,259 ft); that made it the second-deepest cave known at the time, although it has since been surpassed.[2]

More recent explorations have found it to be approximately 1,602 m (5,256 ft) deep and in February 2020 1,626 m (5,335 ft), making it the Seventh deepest cave known in the world .[3][4]

See also

References
  1. Groupe spéléo Vulcain (8 February 2020). "Gouffre Jean-Bernard - coupe développée" (PDF). groupe-speleo-vulcain.com. Retrieved 18 February 2020..
  2. Scheffel, Richard L.; Wernet, Susan J., eds. (1980). Natural Wonders of the World. United States of America: Reader's Digest Association, Inc. p. 191. ISBN 0-89577-087-3.
  3. Patton, Michael (2009). "Caving in the French Alps" (PDF). Arkansas Underground: 8–15 – via caves.org.
  4. Le gouffre Jean-Bernard, 1602 m: Samoens/Haute-Savoie/France : record du monde de profondeur. Groupe Vulcain. 1991. ISBN 9782741700319.
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