Project number: GNSF/STO6/5-074
Project title: Research of Tskaltubo (Kumistavi) Unique Cave System and Adjacent to it Speleo objects and Prospects of their Economic Utilization
Funding organization: The Georgian National Science Foundation
Start and end dates: 14.11.2006 - 11.11.2009
Principal investigator: Zurab Tatashidze
Key personnel: Zurab Tatashidze, Kukuri Tsikarishvili, Amiran Jamrishvili, Givi Gigineishvili, Giorgi Geladze, Zaza Lezhava
Project Summary: In 1980s a speleologicalexpedition of the Institute of Geography of Georgian Academy of Sciences started studying the caves that had not been discovered before on the Sataplia-Tskaltubo limestone massive , in the densely-populated village Kumistavi vicinity. After the declining narrow passages and shortstepson the floor of one of the swallow hole were overcome, the group of speleologist managed to intude into a gigantic hollow gaping at them standing on a horizontal floor, what put the first stone in the fundament of opening, exploration and development of this unique cave system.
Achieved results: The results of the complex research complement and expand the already known data and views about the Tskaltubo cave and the surrounding speleoobjects to the current information, which aims to establish the general regularity of karst development in the region, to reveal the morphological, climatic, hydrological and other features of the cave system.
In order to achieve this goal, it was necessary: a complex study of the terrain, both surface and karst forms and fissured-karst waters; filling, refinement of previously existing topographical materials of karst caves, their cadastre and drawing up a distribution scheme; Production of stationary and episodic meteorological observations in the cave system (depending on the seasons of the year); Revealing the peculiarities of some elements of electricity of the cave atmosphere (ionization of air, radioactivity, gaseous and bacteriological composition of air); Development of hydrometeorological monitoring of the water catchment basin of the Tskaltubo cave system; Determining the coefficient of thermal disturbance, the cost of air entering the cave (according to the seasons) and related to it, the approximate amount of tourists allowed in the cave at the same time.
Determining the feeding basins of the karst streams of the Khumi River and the Ghliana River, the probable directions of water movement, and the discharge centers was based on the indicator (coloring of water with paints) tracing method. The routine observations were carried out on the streams of the Sami, Didgheli and Bgheristskali rivers, and hydrochemical investigations of karst waters (Opicho, Bugristskali, Didghele, Kumi, Ghliana, Melouri) were carried out.
Based on the materials of three-year observations (on the basis of indicator tests), the discharge centers of the Vaucluse of the Ghumi River and the Ghliana River located at the same hypsometric levels were identified, and their feeding basins were specified.With the materials of three-year observations (on the basis of indicator tests), the discharge centers of the Vaucluse of the Qumi River and the Ghliana River located at the same hypsometric levels were identified, and their feeding basins were specified. With the help of professional divers, up to 20 siphons of the cave system with complex morphology were investigated, dry and watery sections behind the unknown siphon corridors were planned. Tskaltubo cave is a multi-door and multi-story, labyrinth-type cave system, the separate parts of which are separated from each other by water-filled corridors with siphons or collapsed rocks and clogging clay plugs.
Based on the results of the research, we can state that the Tskaltubo cave meets all the requirements for the touristic purposes of karst caves.