Hidden Earth 2018
Paniai Lakes, West Papua – Disappearing Rivers 2018
30 minute Lecture|Mr Peter Talling
Abstract
This talk tells the tale of the first caving expedition to one of the most enticing areas of virgin karst worldwide, with a remarkably high density of disappearing rivers. This high limestone plateau extends for 70 miles along the spine of Indonesian Papua. It includes the highest mountain in Oceania (Puncak Jaya), has rather a lot of rain, and over 2,000 m of depth potential to the south. This 5-person reconnaissance expedition in August and September 2018 will attempt to reach a set of spectacular sinks and resurgences in the Paniai Lakes area. Their main target is a 150 m pitch into a huge resurgence nicknamed ‘The Ganges’, which lies 12 km from where a lake sinks. It remains to be seen whether they can overcome a tense political situation with the Free West Papua Movement and Indonesian military, using their cheeky charm and Ghar Parau postcards, and gain access to any caves whatsoever. But if you never try. At least there is a 4WD road to the coast for them to escape along. The expedition will finish with a search for caves (and gin and tonics) in the Raja Ampat islands to the north of Papua's Bird's Head.
More from 2018
Lecture|Prof John Gunn
Progress towards a British Cave Monitoring Centre
Lecture|Mr Connor Roe
The Return to Peña Colorada
Lecture|Dr Mark Tringham
Exploration of Caves in Kaokoland, Namibia – Results of the 2018 Expedition
Lecture|Dr Andrew Farrant
Caving in the Chalk
Workshop|Mrs Helen Adams
BCA... what can it do for me?
Lecture|Miss Faye Litherland
Fun Facts about Fear!
Lecture|Dr Frank Pearson
Northern Round-up
Lecture|Mr Konstantinos Trimmis
“Darkographies”: A photo-history of the Katafygadi cave archaeological excavation in Kythera island, Greece
Workshop|Mrs Paula Grgich Warke
Developing a SIG in Hydrology within BCRA
Lecture|Miss Louise Baddeley
The BCRA Cave Biology SIG and the Cheshire Sandstone Cave Project