Allikukivi Caves

Useful Information

Location:	1.5 km east of Kilingi-Nõmme village, Pärnu County. Between the new and old road, in a small valley.
Open:	No restrictions. [2010]
Fee:	free. [2010]
Classification:	erosional cave
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:	L=33 m, BH: L=6 m, W=5 m, H=5 m.
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As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1961	discovered during road construction, when an excavator broke through the cave ceiling.

Description

The Allikukivi Cave is with a length of only 33 m the longest cave of Estonia in Devonian sandstones. It has a chamber with a size of six by five meters, about 27 m², and a height of five meters. Actually this is a reputable size for erosional sandstoine caves.

It formed in the middle part of the Aruküla Regional Stage which is the upper Eifelian in international terms. The facies is a reddish-brown, argillaceous and silty sandstone.

There are numerous legends about this cave. According to one, a ghost lives inside the caves. Another legend tells, that a stingy farmer is buried in the caves with his farm. Rather similar is the legend of a wedding-party, whose guests did not help a beggar. As a result they vanished into the cave and were never seen again.

The area has several other caves and related features. There are two dolines, where obviously the caves below collapsed, one with a diameter of 7 m and another of 17 m, both about 2 m deep. Nearby is also Kärsu spring, which always has been an important resting place.