Matka Divers find church foundations

Divers of speleo-diving club "Vrelo" and diving club "Akvatek" found Sunday remains of foundations, believed to be of an old Macedonian church, during their underwater expedition in the waters of lake Matka near Skopje.

The campaign aimed at researching and documenting the lake bottom structure.

"Prior to the construction of the Matka dam, the so-called Road of Strength was located here, which linked Macedonia's northeast with the southwest. We wanted to locate, research and map all archaeological sites, which are now under water", said Vrelo president Kiro Angeleski.

The campaign was also environmental, with divers mapping waste locations that are set to be cleaned.

The campaign is part the 2013 global programme GUWAA (Global Under Water Awareness Association).

Inside the Vrelo cave.

The Ministry of Economy granted Denar 80,000 (about EUR 1,300) to the 'Vrelo' Diving Club in support of its activities for exploring the underwater Vrelo cave of the Canyon of Matka. Next year the Ministry will earmark more funds for promoting the cave as a tourist destination and organizing a new expedition, Economy Minister Fatmir Besimi said Thursday at a meeting with the international divers that have been exploring the depth of Vrelo cave for the last two weeks.
Italian diver Luigi Casati, who is part of the international diving expedition, reached the depth of 192 meters, thus enlisting Vrelo in the deepest caves in Europe.
Vrelo, which was nominated for the new Seven World Wonders, has been researched for several times. Its horizontal length is 450 meters and 98 meters in vertical. According to speleologists' assessments, Vrelo's depth is 330m, thus being the deepest underwater cave in the world, surpassing the Bushman Hole in South Africa, which holds the Guinness Record with 282 meters.
For decades the Macedonian citizens and residents had been aware of the Vrelo Cave, but only recently ventured to investigate it.

Vrelo Cave depth passes 190m depth

International speleological expedition will research August 2-15 cave Vrelo in Matka canyon to determine its depth. The goal is to reach depths larger than 183 meters, thus declaring Vrelo the deepest underwater cave in Europe. Vrelo, which was nominated for the new Seven World Wonders, has been researched for several times. Its horizontal length is 450 meters and 98 meters in vertical, where from a new gap opens which bottom has not been reached.
Vrelo divers will also attempt to topple the European diving record of 182 meters. The expedition includes two Macedonian divers, as well as five from Belgium and six from Italy.

Italian diver Luigi Casati, who is part of the international diving expedition that has been exploring underwater Vrelo cave of the Canyon of Matka, reached yesterday the depth of 190 meters, the 'Vrelo' Diving Club said Monday in a press release.
The international expedition will explore Vrelo cave by August 15 and will try to prove the theory that it is the deepest one in Europe and maybe in the world. Vrelo, which was nominated for the new Seven World Wonders, has been researched for several times.
According to speleologists' assessments, Vrelo's depth is 330m, thus being the deepest underwater cave in the world, surpassing the Bushman Hole in South Africa, which holds the Guinness Record with 282 meters.