UNDERGROUND RIVER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19731, 2 September 1927, Page 12

UNDERGROUND RIVER.

DISCOVERY ! N FRANCE. VAST CAVERN'S AND LAKE. An enderzronnd river a mile long leading to a subterranean lake in an immense cavern, the roof of which glisten; with stalactites l:ke huge diamond needses, has been discovered near the village of Izaat-de-S'Hotel, in the Haste Garonne Depart scent in the sooth of Franc*. The village derives its water supply from a copious spring tsssing from a cleft ;n the mountain at an ahctade of 2500 ft.. near which are a number of natural wells, one of which has been used from time immemorial for disposing of toe carcases of dead cattle. In order to detenssne whether the well into which the dead cattle are thrown contaminated the village water supply, a local official, M. Norbert 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 an. dergroand river, apparently of .considerable depth, the waters of which were icy cold. From time to time the river narrowed and then widened ont again into jrreat (underground halls, culminating -a mile from the outlet in a large subterranean lake which has not yet been fully explored