Sometimes the things that should make things harder actually make them possible! Who would have imagined that diving in an arctic winter would be the way to achieve an exploration breakthrough.
The longest cave system in Sweden is in the mountains of Jämtland is Dolinsjögrottan, deep in the Bjuralven valley. Since the entrance was discovered in 1979 explorers have been looking for a way in, but 20 knot summer outflows and accessibility issues meant that it wasn’t until 2007 that the first winter expedition was made. In winter the freezing of the ground, snowfall and low water flow makes accessibility and entering the cave practicable. As long as you can deal with near freezing water temperatures, are an expert snowmobiler and can mix both dry caving and cave diving techniques at a truly expert level.
Thankfully the skills of the Bjulralven team members have in the last 12 years pushed the cave to nearly 2.5km and expanded the exploration to nearby caves in the same area. In addition they have identified two new entrances. A truly unique and extreme exploration challenge with superb community support.
Project Antillothrix is a multi-organizational partnership formed to conduct biodiversity surveys and excavations of paleontological cave sites in the Dominican Republic. Together, researchers and divers from the City University of New York (CUNY), Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD), Museo del Hombre Dominicano (MHD), and the Dominican Republic Speleological Society (DRSS) have documented and collected a trove of vertebrate fossils for study and preservation since the inception of this collaboration in 2011.
Project Antillothrix is a multi-organizational partnership formed to conduct biodiversity surveys and excavations of paleontological cave sites in the Dominican Republic. Together, researchers and divers from the City University of New York (CUNY), Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD), Museo del Hombre Dominicano (MHD), and the Dominican Republic Speleological Society (DRSS) have documented and collected a trove of vertebrate fossils for study and preservation since the inception of this collaboration in 2011.
2016-2022
The Bjuralven expedition is focussed on achieving a thorough exploration, mapping and documentation of the caves in the Bjuralven valley.
With the links developed with the local community the expedition want to promote both the caves and the community.
Last, but not least the expedition looks to contribute to scientific research through co-operation with universities.
It's your
contribution
By choosing XDEEP equipment for your personal use, you contribute to the support we can provide to many brave explorers around the world. It all counts towards reaching a small part closer to the goal: go further, deeper, higher, and longer.
Thank you!
How to apply?
Share your vision with us. We want to support adventures, explorations, and projects that deepen the understanding of the underwater world.
