Gouffre Jean-Bernard

Gouffre Jean-Bernard
Location	Samoëns
Coordinates
Depth	1,602 m (5,256 ft)
Discovery	Groupe Vulcain, 1959
Geology	Limestone
Entrances	> 8
Cave survey	Survey(section), Surey(plan)

Gouffre Jean-Bernard or Réseau Jean Bernard, sometimes known simply as Jean Bernard, is one of the deepest known caves in the world. It is found in the Alps, in Samoëns, France. The first entrance to the cave was found by the Groupe Vulcain in 1959, and higher entrances have been found occasionally since then. Currently at least eight are known, of which the highest, above Samoëns, is at 2264 m above sea level.

In 1963, two speleologists of Groupe Vulcain, Jean Dupont and Bernard Raffy died in Ardèche. The Group named the cave "Jean-Bernard" in their memory.

Until the 1980s, it was the deepest explored cave in the world, but it has now been displaced to sixth.

External links and references

• Le Gouffre Jean Bernard (in French)
• Map of the Gouffre