042 Cueva de los Cefrales
South Vega VN50869551 Alt. 300m Length 474m Depth 54m

Updated 30th August 1998; 19th February 1999; 14th May 2000; 26th July 2000

Formally called Cueva de Dofrades, the correct name only came to light 20 years after its exploration.

The top entrance is a scalloped, phreatically enlarged rift which slopes steeply downwards. After 20m a 10m pitch drops into a roomy chamber. A squeeze through at floor level leads to a 5m pitch. To the right is a greasy climb to a draughting choke but at the bottom of the pitch the passage continues walking-sized with several levels that unite in a sandy chamber, extensively pocketed. The way on leads, after 50m to a 15m diameter chamber with a deep pool. A squeeze at floor level under an incredibly scalloped wall gives access to a traverse to a lower entrance (at VN5090(0)9560(7)) that emerges in a grassy valley, just above the new track to the water tank.

Further explorations in 1991 seemed to reveal, amongst other bits and pieces, a dig through into a well-decorated series of chambers with an inwardly draughting inlet with footprints!

Extensions at Easter 1994 included a hole in the floor, previously chiselled out (by Spaniards?). This pitch choked but a climb one side enters two small chiselled out crawls which become very small. A wet crawl may dig but was also very small.

Another hole was opened up (location) which enters the surveyed extensions. A short climb down enters a small dry crawl to the top of a pitch. At the base is a chamber with two ways out: one leading to larger passage and a few possible digs, but with no real draught; the second was crawling over hard sand to a small tube down which is a possible dig with an echo.

References: anon., 1978 (logbook); Corrin J et al, 1978 (survey and photo); Addis F et al, 1979 (survey); Corrin J S and Smith P, 1981; Manchester University Speleological Society, 1982; material in file; Corrin J, 1983a (survey); anon., 1991 (logbook); anon., 1994a (Easter logbook); anon., 1998d (logbook); anon., 2000b (Easter logbook); anon., 2000c (Summer logbook)
Entrance picture : top entrance   bottom entrance
Underground picture(s): just inside bottom entrance
Detailed Survey :
Line Survey :
On area survey :
Survex file :