Agtelek

Agtelek, a Hungarian village to the NE. of Pesth, near one of the largest and most remarkable stalactitic caverns of Europe. The cavity opens at the foot of a limestone mountain with an entrance scarcely $3\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ feet high by 5 feet wide. It consists of a labyrinth of caverns communicating with one another, many of which it is difficult, and even dangerous, to explore when the subterranean streams that flow through them are high. Numerous stalactitic structures occur in all the caverns, which, from their singular shapes, have given rise to the various names of the Cathedral, Paradise, the Bat's Cave, the Flower-garden, the Ruins of Palmyra, &c. The new cavern was first thoroughly explored in 1856. Some of the caverns are nearly 100 feet in height. Remains of the cave bear are found in them.