Fou de Balet

A large fissure at La Riba, about 30 metres long by 8 metres wide, with access via a vertical drop of -11.3 metres.

Riba, La • Alt Camp 59m 15m

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Fou de Balet

A large fissure at La Riba, about 30 metres long by 8 metres wide, with access via a vertical drop of -11.3 metres.

Riba, La · Alt Camp

Length: 59 m · Depth: 15 m

Updated record

https://espeleoworld.com/en/c/fou-de-balet

Information can change. Always verify coordinates, access, weather, and cave conditions before setting out.

Topographic map of the main entrance — Main entrance · ICGC topographic map

A large fissure at La Riba, about 30 metres long by 8 metres wide, with access via a vertical drop of -11.3 metres.

Characteristics

Type: Pothole
Municipality: Riba, La
Region: Alt Camp
Unit: Muntanyes de Prades
Length: 59 meters
Depth: 15 meters
Major Unit: Serralada Prelitoral
Lithology: Limestone
Updated on EspeleoÍndex: December 23, 2024

Location

On the TV-7044 road from La Riba towards El Pinetell, once at the car park below the La Riba Youth Camp, we follow the road to kilometre 4.200 (distance 700 m); at this point we turn left onto an uphill path which after 330 metres brings us to the Tres Pilars; here we continue left towards Castell Dalmau; at 590 metres from the road we turn left towards La Riba; at 800 metres from the road we turn left again onto a faint trail that runs through a hollow which becomes more pronounced as we advance; at 950 metres from the road we reach the Fou de Balet; access to the cavity is via the right-hand side of the crag.

Entrances

Always verify coordinates and access conditions before setting out.

Fou de Balet
Elevation: 479 m
41.309603, 1.154686
UTM 31T (ETRS89) 345531 4574769
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Topographic

Fou de Balet - Topography, Riba, La, Alt Camp

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Photos

Fou de Balet - Photo, Riba, La, Alt Camp

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Description

Morphology

It is a large fissure about 30 metres long by about 8 metres wide. At both ends of the fissure small hollows open out, while the side walls of the fissure rise to 28 metres in height.

Progression

Access is via one of its ends by means of a vertical drop of -11.3 metres, followed by a ramp that places us in the middle of the floor of the fissure at the -13.3 metre level. On the right-hand side (NE) we find a rise that places us at the lowest point of the fissure at -14.60 metres.

History

The Fou de Balet was already mentioned and described by Josep Iglesies in 1927, who gave it a depth of -31 metres. This drop is somewhat exaggerated; we understand that this measurement was counted from the upper lips of the chasm, corresponding to the SW and NE walls of the fissure, which in reality measure 28 metres, but access to the cavity is from the SE side, which has a drop of only -14.6 metres, while the other side of the fissure on the NW side has a drop similar to this one.

Bio

The entire base of the cavity is full of vegetation, especially Hart's-tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium), and long, thick ivy hangs from the high side walls.

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Bibliography

Iglésies, Josep. (1927).-”Catalogació d'avencs i coves de la vall del riu Brugent”. Revista del Centre de Lectura de Reus.
Iglésies, Josep. (1953).-”La Riba”. El nom de lloc de les terres Catalanes (1):1-87. Societat Catalana de Geografia filial de l'Institut d'Estudis Catalans.
Borràs, J.; Miñarro, J.M.; Talavera, F. (1978).-”Alt Camp, La Conca de Barberà, el Baix Penedès i el Tarragonès”. Catàleg Espeleològic de Catalunya (vol.2):1-246. Ed. Plíglota. Barcelona.