SHAH NASIR (Cave of)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

An extensive and complex, natural temple cave (note 1) sacred to Muslims, appears to have developed from fissured rock enlarged by weathering (note 2). SITUATION: Near the summit of a limestone mountain without recognised name, which lies high up in (the upper reaches of?) a certain valley of Karghaleh (Qarghana / Qarghaneh?), a tributary to the Ghorband, and approximately 950 vertical metres above the village of Kotak (note 3). CAVE DESCRIPTION: The wide cave entrance leads to irregularly shaped cavities at different levels which, coming back to each other, are separated by large boulders and rifts. The cave walls are fissured and formed by the action of water. CAVE CONTENTS: Various shapes of speleothems: large stalagmites, small stalactites, draperies (bacon), organ pipes, and roundish concretions. Water drops without re-assembling. CAVE CLIMATE: An air temperature of 6°C was measured inside the cave and 13°C at the entrance on 6th August 1957. CAVE LIFE: There's almost no bat (Ciroptera) guano and the cave appears to be azoïque (azoic, life-less). From near the entrance LINDBERG (1958: 120) says to have collected Chilopoda and Arachnida (Opiliones).iroptera) guano and the cave appears to be azoïque (azoic, life-less). From near the entrance LINDBERG (1958: 120) says to have collected Chilopoda and Arachnida (Opiliones).