Explorers Find Hidden Cave Under Paddock

Finding a new cave is the best feeling in the world.

Agnes Milowka, a cave explorer, said this and it inspires people to explore.

Most of the Earth's surface has been explored, but there are still many caves to discover.

Going into caves can be very dangerous. We are going to explore one with some experts.

A group of explorers is going to a cave near Melbourne. They want to see what's inside.

These explorers have day jobs, but they like to explore caves on the weekends.

I'm in a small town to see a cave that explorers have been looking at for 20 years.

The cave is under some hills and has been forming for over 350 million years.

The cave was found by chance in 2006.

Some parts of the cave are very big, while others are small and need special equipment.

Only 3.13 kilometers of the cave have been explored so far.

The cave is also very deep, making it one of the most important in the state.

Today, some experienced cavers are taking me into the cave through its original entrance.

The part of the cave we're going to is very rarely visited, with fewer people than have walked on the moon.

Only 12 people have been to this part of the cave.

Stephen Fordyce is one of the leaders and has reached the farthest point in the cave.

He loves exploring and wants to leave a legacy of discovery.

Stephen knows that each trip can be dangerous, and he might not return.

Before going, he says goodbye to his loved ones and leaves a plan with his team.

Some divers recently died in a cave, reminding us of the risks of cave exploration.

When accidents happen, people become aware of the dangers of cave exploration.

But explorers keep going, often without being noticed by the public.

Stephen and two other cavers with me are experts who would help in a cave rescue.

I'm feeling nervous as I look at the cave entrance, a narrow pipe in the ground.

I slide into the pipe and try to find a way to safely get to the bottom.

The air inside the cave is damp but stable at 17 degrees Celsius.

We navigate through tight spaces, and I feel the limestone against my body.

With careful movement, I find a way to go further into the cave.

Suddenly, there's more space, and I can crouch next to Tom.

We look up at thousands of colorful stalactites above us.

These formations are like a ceiling of calcite shards that have taken millions of years to form.

I feel amazed to be one of the few people to see this beauty.

I turn off my light and sit in the silent darkness.

It's hard to imagine being the first person to see this cave.

Then I meet Kim, who discovered the cave.

Kim sits on her verandah, near the cave, and talks about her discovery.

Kim and her husband found the cave in 2006 while walking in the area.

They noticed some grass moving, which made them think there might be a cave underneath.

Kim was the first to enter the cave, crawling and squeezing through rocks.

The cave was named Elk River because of a unique formation and the first letters of the explorers' names.

Kim says finding the stream in the cave was one of her proudest moments.

Kim and her husband have discovered many caves and helped in rescues.

Their discovery of Elk River was special and solved old mysteries about the area.

Kim's son Josh found a 50,000-year-old fossil in another cave.

The fossil was one of the most complete ever found and was extracted years later.

Discoveries like these make cave explorers passionate about their work.

Josh still lives in the area and spends his free time caving.

We reach the cave floor after abseiling down a 30-meter pitch.

The stream in the cave is constantly flowing and is the lifeblood of Elk River.

Understanding how the water flows is crucial for new discoveries.

Tom Elms, a caver, explains that knowing the path of the stream is important.

Tom is part of a team planning a new expedition to unlock the remaining secrets of Elk River.

The team wants to find out where the water starts and where it connects to the surface.

Tom is searching for new caves and passages that might link to Elk River.

There are many caves in the area, and some have been forgotten or lost.

The explorers think about what lies beyond the known parts of the cave.

They wonder who will make the next big discovery in Elk River's history.

Stephen says that discoveries like these can take a long time and might happen once in a lifetime.

The cave is documented, and someone with the right skills might make the next discovery.

Elk River cave will continue to exist, even after we leave.

Stephen is now focused on making new discoveries in other caves.

He is sharing his knowledge with the next generation of cavers at Homeleigh.

Tom is part of the team and is determined to uncover the answers about Elk River.

Tom explains the two big questions about the cave: where the water goes downstream and where it starts.

Tom is searching for new caves and passages to find the link to Elk River.

There are many caves in the area, and some have only been visited once or twice in 50 years.

The explorers are thinking about who will make the next big discovery in Elk River's history.

Stephen says that discoveries like these can happen once in a lifetime and might take a long time.

The cave is waiting for someone with the right skills to make the next discovery.

Credits

Pratique d'écoute