UNDERGROUND RIVER

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 September 1927, Page 4

UNDERGROUND RIVER

DISCOVERY IN FRANCE. An underground river a mile long leading to a subterranean lake in an immense cavern, the roof of which glistens with stalactites like huge diamond needles, has been discovered near the village of Izaut-de-l’llotel, in the Haute Garonne Department in the south of France. The village derives its water supply from a copious spring issuing from a cleft in the mountain at an altitude of 2500 ft., near which are a number of natural wells, one' of which has been used from time immemorial for disposing of the carcases of dead cattle. In order to determine whether the well into •which the dead cattle are thrown contaminated the village water supply, a local official, M. Noi’bcrt Casteret, entered the cleft in the rock in a portable canoe, with an electric lamp worked by a pocket battery fixed to his forehead. He found himself travelling up an underground river, apparently of considerable depth, the waters of which were icy cold.. From time to time the river narrowed and then widened out,. again into great underground hallb, culminating a mile from the outlet in a large subterranean lake which has not yet been fully explored.