Tifeo Caves

Etna East – Territory: Zafferana Etnea

Coordinate: 37°44’57.7″N 15°01’53.9″E
37.749355, 15.031647

ELEVATION: 2105 m.

Development: about 150 meters

Nearest known location: Monte Simone

Exploration: Can only be visited with speleological equipment.
First Survey: Dario Teri May 5, 2022

First full exploration: Dario Teri, Fabrizio La Carrubba 29.12.2022/XNUMX/XNUMX.

Notified to the relevant municipality on \\

This is a beautiful lava cave that develops on an ancient eruptive fracture fortunately spared by the recent lava flows of 2022-2023.

The lava flow in fact, despite a rather large front descending from 2820 meters, practically surrounded it, passing at 4/5 meters, it was saved. Even a front immediately upstream, stopped right near the entrance. The name Tifeo - dedicated to the great titan who challenged Zeus and who was therefore imprisoned under the island, shaking it and pulling lava from under the volcano - turned out to be particularly appropriate given the dimensions.

In reality there are 2 caves, a short distance away. Tifeo 1 is about thirty meters long and is located on a parallel fracture a few dozen meters away. One of the entrances was blocked by the lava flow in December 2022

The most interesting is definitely Tifeo 2, which we will talk about below. Mammoth and with peculiarities that make it a true pearl in the Etna speleological panorama.

It is evidently a cave with a “mixed” genesis and morphology, that is with evidence of lava flow on an eruptive fracture and it is structured on two levels. The lower level is the most interesting, with a development of about 150 meters in which very large rooms open up. Downstream about fifty meters in which a large room opens up with a height of about 12 meters and a width of 20/25 meters. Perhaps this is where Tifeo lives… in fact the impression is exactly this!

Heading uphill is the part that offers the most wonders and where the giant has evidently given vent to his creative flair.

The channel has a pointed vault shape for a good part with a very high average height. The middle part of the conduit is spectacular, with enormous “shelves” and “mammals” of smooth, metallic-looking lava. Also wonderful are the lava pendants and drippings due to the plasticity of the lava flow. Some reach and exceed 20 cm in length! Personally, I have never seen anything of these dimensions on our volcano.

We have detected a very particular phenomenon on the rocks on the ground: black streaks parallel to each other, reminiscent of a feline's hair, perhaps due to the percolation of water from the ceiling.

Ultimately an underground pearl that we had the pleasure of bringing to light. Ps. a visit is highly recommended to speleo enthusiasts considering that the cave is at constant risk of destruction due to eruptive activity from the South East crater.

WARNING

This cave is accessed with two jumps that require speleological equipment and techniques. At least 2 ropes or a 30-meter one or ladders. This makes it a cavity for experts only! Furthermore, after the lava flows of May/June 2022, the approach terrain has become very tortuous.