Austrian Speleological Association
The Austrian Speleological Association (Verband Österreichischer Höhlenforscher, VÖH) is a national caving organization was founded as an umbrella organization of 26 Austrian caving clubs in 1949.[1]
"Verband Österreichischer Höhlenforscher" | |
 | |
| Abbreviation | (VÖH) |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1949 |
| Type | INGO |
| Purpose | Coordination of Austrian caving clubs |
| Headquarters | Upper Danube Street 97/1/61 A-1020 Vienna |
Region | Austria |
Membership (2016) | 2,500 |
Official language | German |
President | Dr. Christoph Spötl |
Vice-President | DI (FH) Ernest Geyer |
Secretary General | Prof.Dr. Johannes Wallner |
| Publication | DIE HÖHLE (THE CAVE) |
| Affiliations | International Union of Speleology; European Speleological Federation (FSE) |
| Website | hoehle |
Activities
The Association coordinates the activities of 26 speleological associations; 25 in Austria and one in Germany.[2] Membership in these associations automatically grants membership in the umbrella organization. Individual memberships are not accepted. The Association maintains:
- a website featuring the 32 show caves found throughout the country.
- a list of Austria's longest and deepest caves.
- a library of 2,800 books and other material (in the Karst and Speleology Working Group Library, Natural History Museum in Vienna).
Awards
- The Golden Cave Bear is "a badge of honor for special services to Austrian caving." It was first awarded in 2014.
- The Poldi Fuhrich Award, named in honor of the Austrian woman who was a caving and karst pioneer[3] Leopoldine Fuhrich (1898-1926), is presented to young speleologists for "outstanding work in the field of caving, cave documentation and public relations." It was first awarded in 2010.
Publications
- Caves and Karst in Austria (Book)
- The Cave - Journal of Karst and Speleology (magazine produced jointly with the Association of German Cave and Karst Researchers)
- Association newsletters
- SPELDOK series
- Karst-spreading and Karst-hazard maps
Collaborations
The Association works with
- the Karst and Speleology Working Group of the National History Museum to manage SPELDOK, a database containing data on over 15,500 caves.[4]
- international karst and speleological organizations on research projects.
Associations
The Association is a member of these international organizations:
- International Union of Speleology (UIS)
- European Speleological Federation (FSE)
- Environmental Umbrella Organization (formerly UWD)
- Association of Austrian Academic Societies (VWGÖ)
- Association of Alpine Associations of Austria (VAVÖ)*, which includes the Austrian Alpine Club, Friends of Nature Austria, Austrian Tourist Club, and the Austrian Mountaineering Association.
Notable members
- Alfred Koppenwallner (1921–2016), jeweler, discovered the Cave of Tantalus (Tantalhöhle)[5] mountaineer, pilot, motorcyclist who participated in the Oldtimer Grand Prix (Salzburgring) and skier in the Österreichische Alpenfahrt.[6]
- Sabine Zimmerebner (1970-2015) Quoted in the July 3, 2018 New York Times article,[7] Ms. Zimmerebner was one of 728 rescuers who collaborated to free an injured spelunker in the history-making 2014 Riesending cave rescue.
References
- "Welcome - Austrian Speleological Association (in English)".
- "Member Associations page". Austrian Speleological Association (in English). Retrieved 1 November 2018.
- Shaw, Trevor (2006). "Poldi Fuhrich (1898-1926): Female Pioneer of Severe Cave Exploring". Cave and Karst Science. 33 (3): 119-130. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
- SPELDOK Verband Österreichischer Höhlenforscher, n.d., retrieved 1 August 2018
- Nachrufe Verband Österreichischer Höhlenforscher, n.d., retrieved 1 August 2018
- Chronik, Menschen, 9./10. August Salzburger Nachrichten, 8. August 2014, retrieved 1 August 2018
- Ives, Mike (July 3, 2018). "5 Cave Rescues That Worked: Thailand Can Find Hope in Past Success". New York Times. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
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