LAVA GHARA

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Two separate cave entrances give access to a cave passage of solutional origin, which is currently divided by breakdown into two parts but formerly pierced a ridge exposing Chiltan Limestone near the base of a southern spur descending from Koh-i Maran. ETYMOLOGY: The Balochi -Lava Ghara- ('Wolf's Den') is a field name given by the original explorers. SITUATION: Drive some 20 minutes east along the unmetalled road from -Mungochar- (note 1) on the Quetta - Kalat road) towards Johan (note 2) till a pass is reached (note 3). From here, the small visible entrance (note 4) is seen on the second terrace of the limestone hills NNE of the road (note 5). The walk from the road to the cave (note 6) takes almost 30 minutes. CAVE DESCRIPTION: The entrance is about 3 m in diameter and forms a small, 2 m deep pocket or chamber. On the right hand side of this lobby runs the main passage (3 m in diameter) for 5 m to the east and reaches a collapse. Walking across the ridge the second entrance (2m in diameter) is reached. This opens to a passage of 3 m in diameter that runs in an approximately westerly direction for 6 m to reach was is the far side of the aforementioned collapse. CAVE CONTENTS: Fine sand, boulders, and debris with traces indicating that the cave was sometimes used by an animal.Two separate cave entrances give access to a cave passage of solutional origin, which is currently divided by breakdown into two parts but formerly pierced a ridge exposing Chiltan Limestone near the base of a southern spur descending from Koh-i Maran. ETYMOLOGY: The Balochi -Lava Ghara- ('Wolf's Den') is a field name given by the original explorers. SITUATION: Drive some 20 minutes east along the unmetalled road from -Mungochar- (note 1) on the Quetta - Kalat road) towards Johan (note 2) till a pass is reached (note 3). From here, the small visible entrance (note 4) is seen on the second terrace of the limestone hills NNE of the road (note 5). The walk from the road to the cave (note 6) takes almost 30 minutes. CAVE DESCRIPTION: The entrance is about 3 m in diameter and forms a small, 2 m deep pocket or chamber. On the right hand side of this lobby runs the main passage (3 m in diameter) for 5 m to the east and reaches a collapse. Walking across the ridge the second entrance (2m in diameter) is reached. This opens to a passage of 3 m in diameter that runs in an approximately westerly direction for 6 m to reach was is the far side of the aforementioned collapse. CAVE CONTENTS: Fine sand, boulders, and debris with traces indicating that the cave was sometimes used by an animal.