Hallstätter See – Kessel (karsztforrás-barlang / karst spring cave)
The Kessel is a periodically active giant karst spring on the shore of the Hallstätter See between Hallstatt and Obertraun, and part of the Hirlatzhöhle system. Behind the spring pool a first sump of about 45 m leads to a short dry section, followed by a second sump of about 40 m that drops vertically into the Zaunerhalle, whose floor lies at around 63–64 m. Czech cave diver Pavel Riha explored it from 2001 and in December 2003 dived through to the known dry parts of the Hirlatzhöhle, making the Kessel a third entrance to the system. Divers reached 65 m here as early as 1980. After long periods of rain the spring overflows spectacularly.
Tiefe: 0–64 m