Hidden Earth 2023
Matienzo in the 2020s
30 minute Lecture|Chris Scaife

Abstract
British cavers have been visiting Matienzo in northern Spain for decades. This timeless village, home to a bar that never stops serving, sits in an enormous enclosed karst depression known to cavers as the Happy Valley. The number of known caves in the area exceeds 5,000 and the longest systems include the Four Valleys (72km long), Cueva Vallina (37.5km) and the South Vega (34.8km).
There have been some major finds in recent years, including several kilometres of decorated passage in Torca del Muérdago and Torca la Decepción. This latter pothole descends three pitches and allows an express route into a part of the Four Valleys system that could previously be visited only on long, long caving trips. The potential for further extension of this system is huge.
This talk will summarise recent expeditions to Matienzo and discuss the potential for future finds. With an average of almost 7km of new passage being found every year, there sure is potential!
More from 2023
Workshop|Jonathan Lester
BCRA - Cave Survey Group Meet
Lecture|Andy Farrant
Hot stuff. Looking for hypogenic caves in Southwest England
Lecture|Kai Trusson
Setting up a Caving Club
Lecture|Emma Porter, Mike Clayton & Team
Deep in the Levant
Lecture|Jonathan Lester
BCA - Youth and Development Talk: Unearthing Ancient Wisdom and Future Shenanigans
Lecture|David Hardwick
Caves of the North Bristol Outcrop
Lecture|Marcin Stempniewicz
Using Underwater Photogrammetry to Map the Maria Concordia mine
Lecture|Rob Watson, Wookey
Should the GPF mandate cave expedition carbon offsetting?
Lecture|Peter Glanvill
England's smallest caving area?
Lecture|Keith Edwards
How to make a successful a caving film