The 3rd August 1921, when two enthusiasts, a Moravian teacher, Alois Král, and the son of a local gamekeeper, Adam Mišura, dug through the sediment of the Demänovka and discovered one of the most beautiful caves in Slovakia – the Demänovská Cave of Liberty, was an ordinary day. However, this discovery made it a significant day in the history of speleology. Now, it has already been 100 years ...

     The cave was opened to the public in 1924. It is part of the national natural monument, the Demänovské Caves and was carved into the dark grey Mesozoic limestone by the Demänovka. The remarkable internal decoration of the cave boasts smaller geomorphological forms as well as huge columns, eccentric Aragonite structures, various forms of lake stalagmites and spherulitic stalactites. Wonderful lakes with water lilies and rococo dolls are among the most beautiful formations in the entire system of the Demänovské Caves, with the current explored and documented passageways making up 43 kilometres. The visitor can choose from two different tours. The length of the Traditional Tour is 1,150 metres and the Long Tour is 2,150 metres.

     The Demänovská Cave of Liberty is also exceptional due to its unique fauna which became a subject of this issue of postage stamp. A visitor could see a remarkable creature in its groundwater – Niphargus tatrensis. It is a benthic stygobiont crustacean from the Amphipoda family. It was first discovered in a well in Zakopane (Poland) in 1887 and this is also reflected in the Slovak version of its name. Other interesting animals include the springtails Protaphorura janosik and Pseudosinella paclti (a motive of FDC Cancellation). These are very small terrestrial animals from the Colembolla family and are among the species endemic to the Western Carpathians. A unique and very precious animal of the Demänovská Cave of Liberty is the arachnid Eukoenenia spelaea from the Palpigradi family, depicted on overprint of FDC. This cave, together with the Važecká Cave, is the northernmost European habitat of this creature.

Ján Lakota, Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology, Liptovský Mikuláš