Sablino caves

Contact details
Adress: Sablino village, Leningrad region
Tel.: (812) 380 38 46
Homepage: www.sablino.net

Distance from the nearest town:
40 kilometers south-east from St.Petersburg

The caves at Sablino near St.Petersburg are a unique underground complex consisting of a number of labyrinths with lakes and enormous chambers. They are very popular not only amongst speleologists, geologists and other researchers, but also with locals looking for new and different experiences. It can be especially interesting for foreigners to explore this man-made wonder, which has now been allowed to return to nature. It’s a chance to discover a suburb of St.Petersburg from a subterranean perspective!

Today the site of the caves is an historical nature reserve and it has held this status since 1976. It has more than ten man-made caves, two waterfalls and canyons of the rivers Sablinka and Tosna. There are deposits of clay here that are believed to have healing properties and it is also said that you can cure yourself of many lung diseases by breathing the mineral air.

While you are in the reserve it is worth seeing the picturesque waterfalls - Sablinsky and Tosnensky. The latter, on the Tosna River, has its shape resembling the worldfamous Niagara waterfall Shoe. Since the Leningrad region is mostly flat, waterfalls are a rare phenomenon here.

Additional information:
If you decide to visit the caves you will be guided by a qualified, experienced speleologist. Make sure that you have warm clothes and comfortable shoes. It is probably a good idea to take a drink and a torch.