Earth:Dechen Cave

Dechen Cave
The Emperor Chamber in the Dechen Cave
Location	Sauerland, Germany
Length	870 metres
Elevation	250 metres
Discovery	1868
Geology	Rhenish Massif
Show cave opened	1868
Show cave length	360 metres
Lighting	electric
Website	http://www.dechenhoehle.de

Mosaic stone in front of the Dechen Cave at Iserlohn-Letmathe

The Dechen Cave (German: Dechenhöhle) in Iserlohn, Germany is one of the most visited show caves in Germany. It is located in the northern part of the Sauerland at Iserlohn (Grüne district). 360 metres of the 870-metre long cave have been laid out for visitors, beginning at the spot where, in 1868, the cave was discovered by two railway workers. The workers dropped a hammer into a rock crevice which turned out to be the entrance to a dripstone cave when they were searching for the lost tool.

The cave is named after Oberberghauptmann Heinrich von Dechen (1800–1889), in recognition of his contribution to researching the geology of the Rhineland and Westphalia.

Owner

Due to its discovery by rail workers, the cave was first owned by the local railway company – which built the Letmathe–Fröndenberg railway – and later on by the National railway company, the last one was the Deutsche Bundesbahn. In 1983 the cave was taken over by the Mark Sauerland Touristik GmbH.

Railway halt

Because the cave was found and owned by the railway, a halt was built next to the visitors' entrance. Today, the Ruhr-Lenne-Express (RE16) and Ruhr-Sieg-Bahn (RB91) services stop at the halt. Both the RE16 and the RB91 services are operated by Abellio Rail NRW. It is the only cave in Germany with its own halt.

See also

• List of show caves in Germany