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International International Search-for-caves expedition “Tuya-Muyun – 2025” (Foothills of the Alai ridge, Kyrgyzstan)
Expedition dates: July, 2005
If you have a caving club, caving federation or a separate team, you can choose the dates that are convenient for you.
Tuya-Muyun is a small karst massif, approx. 3×1 km, in the south of Kyrgyzstan (N 40.355; E 72.600). It is world famous for the unique U-Ra mine (now closed), where the ores were formed in a cave more than 200 m deep. The massif is truncated by the Aravan River, which forms the Dangi gorge, 300 m deep. There are 7 relatively large and easily accessible caves in the massif (two of which are complex connections of natural and artificial galleries and passages). Another complex and tight labyrinthine cave, 1.7 km long, is located in a small karst massif 4 km to the south. All the caves in this area are of hypogene origin; many contain spectacular crystals of calcite and barite. Hydrothermokarst caves with unique mineralogical formations and mineral compounds were formed here. Academician Evgeny Fersman wrote about the global significance of this karst region. Tuya-Muyun is the eastern end of the South Fergana regional tectonic fault. Otherwise, it is called the mercury-antimony belt, to which several deposits of mercury, antimony and fluorite, as well as other geochemical compounds, are confined. The value of this region is that the caves contain minerals from high to low temperature minerals. Based on the formations inside the cave, it is possible to reconstruct paleoclimatic and paleogeological events in retrospect for several tens of thousands of years. For scientists, this region is very unique. In previous years, we conducted two joint expeditions here with speleologists from Innsburg (Austria). The results were excellent. Therefore, in the walls of the canyon there should be new entrances to caves that are still unknown to scientists.
A significant part of the massif surface is rugged and difficult to access. There are niches and grottoes on the rock walls, which may be entrances to new caves. To check this, they require good climbers and good equipment (or rappelling from above). This will allow for a visual and drone survey of the Dangi Canyon walls.
In the international Austro-Slovak expedition in 2022, an experienced team of speleologists identified a number of promising locations that need to be explored and new caves discovered.
The goal of the expedition in July 2025 will be to search for new caves in the Tuya-Muyun massif with documentation and topographic survey. The goals of the expedition will be new drone observations, checking potential openings, and documenting the caves found. It can be expected that most of the potential locations will be just niches. But we hope that some of them may provide access to new exciting caves.
Therefore, we are ready to welcome a team of speleologists, which will include such specialists as:
– Drone pilot(s) with sufficient experience,
– Cavemen with good rock climbing skills,
– Speleologists with experience in topographic survey of caves
The expedition is planned for July 2025, but you can choose another period if you have a speleo club, association or group.
We will be glad to cooperate with you, since in our country there are practically no speleologists for a full-fledged expedition to this karst region
Contact: Foundation for the Preservation and Exploration of Caves
e-mail: info@speleo.kg
Theme: “Tuya-Muyun – 2025”
We provide all the necessary equipment for the base camp. We also obtain all the necessary permits in order to conduct official research. We do visa support and official invitations.
