History
The mysterious hole on Drinkov vrch was already known to local citizens in the 19th century. J. Banič and I. Vajsábel penetrated into the deeper parts of the sinkhole chimney in 1929. In 1931, J. Prudík founded the Committee for the Research of Caves in Smolenice with the aim of exploring caves. They reached the cave itself in 1932 at a depth of 36 m from the surface. In order to create suitable conditions for making it available, in 1933, thanks to J. Beňovský, they founded the Druzhstvo pro ryskávych gavyne Drina a Małokarpatského kras s.r.o. in Smolenice. In 1933, they opened the lower entrance and began to modify its premises. In 1934 J. Prudík, J. Banič and J. Kratochvíl discovered the Beňovského Corridor. In 1935, in connection with the change in the economic management of the cave, the cooperative adopted new statutes and the name Smolenické jaskyne Driny a letoviská, družstvo s ro, in Smolenice. In the same year, the 175 m long cave was opened to the public with temporary electric lighting. Proper electric lighting was installed in 1943. In 1950, cavers led by J. Majko, A. Droppa and L. Blaha discovered the Hall of the Slovak Speleological Society. The Hall of the Slovak Speleological Society, the Clay Corridor and the Corridor of Hope were made accessible in 1959. The cave is accessible in a length of 410 m.
It was formed in Mesozoic brown-gray Lower Cretaceous hornblende limestones of the Vysoké mantle by atmospheric water corrosion along tectonic faults. It reaches a length of 680 m and a vertical span of 40 m. It consists of narrow fissure corridors (Corridors' Corridor, Beňovského Corridor, Corridor of Hope) and small hall-like spaces (Hall of the Slovak Speleological Society), which were formed mainly at the intersections of tectonic faults. The exposed chimney, which descends to a depth of 36 m from the upper entrance, has the character of a sinkhole chimney.
The fissured underground spaces are decorated with a rich sinter filling. Sinter curtains with toothed edging are typical for the cave. Also represented are sinter waterfalls and streams, pagoda-like stalagmites and various forms of stalactites. There are also sinter ponds that are replenished by percolating rainwater.
The air temperature in the back parts of the Driny cave is 7.1 to 7.8 °C, relative humidity 92 to 97%. The effects of the outdoor climate are manifested under the Discovery Chimney, which communicates with the surface, and in the Entrance Hallway. In these parts of the cave, the air temperature reaches 5.6 to 8.7 °C
So far, 11 species of bats have been found in the cave. The most numerous is (Rhinolophus hipposideros). Among the other species found here are the great horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum), common bat (Myotis myotis), black eared bat (Barbastella barbastellus), light eared bat (Plecotus auritus) and others.
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