1.1. KARSTS OF U.S.S.R. The karstic Regions : The ex-USSR is divided into 27 speleological regions, which are included in 12 great geographical areas. The most important ones are briefly described (geography of ranges, mountains and great caves). The high massives of the Caucasus, where very deep caves were discovered tooken the first place. Caves of the USSR (listed by deep, listed by developpement).
1.2.THE CAUCASUS : The main range, "Great Caucasus", is 1200 km long and 150 to 200 km wide. It is a limit between temperate and subtropical areas. The Central and the Eastern Caucasus have a pluviometrical level maximum in Summer, the Western Caucasus in Winter. The flora and fauna are very typical.
1.3. TWESTERN CAUCASUS : Near Sotchi, you can find the Alek and Bzibskij massives, where, in this latter, there is the Panthukhina Cave, the second deepest cave of the world. Then, we give a short list of foreign expeditions.
1.4. THE ARABIKA MASSIF : It is located in the Abkhasian Autonomous Republic, which is part of the Georgian Republic. It is one of the highest and largest karst massives of the Western Caucasus. The hydrology potential, now revealed by repeated due tracing tests in 1984 and in 1985, is up to 2300 m deep. It is one of the deepest in the world. Then, four great caves of Arabika are described with theirs topographys.
2/ GEORGIAN'S POLITICAL HISTORY
B/ SECOND PART : THE "CAUCASE 92" EXPEDITION
1/ ORGANIZATION : After presenting the team (6 French people, 2 Russians), we explain why we chose the Caucasus to make this expedition. Then, we give the lists of materials, food, medecines and some notes. To go th the Arabika massif, we organized this expedition with a professional speleology organization : Speleocenter. We travelled by minibus and we transported our own food from France. To go to the karst, you have 3 possibilities : by foot, with 4X4 vehicule or with helicopter from Adler, a russian airport.
2/ LOG-BOOK OF THE EXPEDITION : We write the story of the expedition, day by day. After a good travel and after a good exploration in Arabika massif, we had to face a lot of difficulties in our way back to France because the war in Abkhasie started when we went down the massif.
3/ SPELEOLOGICAL RESULTS : The weather was very good during all the camp. After 3 days of prospection (we noted 36 caves, but most of them were small), we decided to visit a russian cave : S78/83 (- 165 m). At - 65 m, we found a little galery with a strong and cold wind. After 3 desobstructions, we explored a new part of S78/83. We reached - 490m. His name is : Zo'ou Cave.
4/ FINANCIAL SIGHT
5/ CONCLUSIONS OF THE EXPEDITION "CAUCASE 92" : The Western Caucasus is really good to the speleology, but, now, with the political war between Georgians and Abkhasians, it is impossible to go in this country.
6/ MAPS
7/ BIBLIOGRAPHY
