Location: |
(56.064450, 24.400946) |
Open: |
no restrictions. [2021] |
Fee: |
free. [2021] |
Classification: | Karst Spring |
Light: | n/a. |
Dimension: | Ø=5 m, VR=20 m, T=8 °C. |
Guided tours: | self guided |
Photography: | allowed |
Accessibility: | no |
Bibliography: | |
Address: | Žalsvasis šaltinis, Kalno g. 18, Pasvalys 39120 |
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. |
1960 | sinkhole collapsed. |
2006 | Alexei Aksionov, one of Russia's most famous speleologists, determines the depth of the cave. |
Žalsvasis šaltinis (Green Spring) is a rather harmless karst spring of the Vauclusian type. But there are two reasons why it is very interesting. The first is the location: the spring emerges only one meter from the Lėvuo river and in the middle of the Pasvalys city. Located in a park along the river, it has become the most popular attraction in the whole city. The second is even more interesting: the underwater cave below the spring is the deepest cave in Lithuania. The locals are quite fond of their spring and supervise the place and report any violation of public order or littering.
The spring is a vertical shaft or pothole, which is 20 m deep. The high content of gypsum of the karst water is responsible for the green colour of the pool, sunlight is fitered. Hence, the spring was named Green Spring. The spring is also rather young, the collapse doline was formed in 1960. And the process has not completely stopped, the shaft is still growing. The gypsum underground is dissolved continually and rather fast, as gypsum is soluble by water. As a result the stone wall surrounding the spring and protecting the visitors is currently collapsing.
The cave is frequented by local and international cave divers. Alexei Aksionov, one of Russia's most famous speleologists, determined the depth of the cave in 2006. At that time it was thought to be 8 m deep. He also discovered two chambers underwater, the first was named Aenigma (Latin for secret) and the second Saulėtosios (Sunny).
There is another similar spring nearby in the hamlet Barklainiai, on the banks of the river Orija, named Baltasis šaltinis (White Spring) or Barklainiai šaltinis after the location. It was declared a natural monument in 1985.