ULMA Basque language students and their Basque-speaking companions go caving in Arrikrutz to practice their Basque

The two-and-a-half hour trip was organised by ULMA Group’s Basque Language Plan Motivation Team. The group took the opportunity to discover the rich selection of natural treasures contained in the Arrikrutz caves, which they found quite fascinating, while Leire and Urko, the Arrikrutz guides, provided all the explanations. The potholers sometimes had to crawl through narrow passages and small holes which led them to huge galleries,  all adding up to a thrilling experience.

The trip included a visit to the Marcel Loubens gallery, the lion skeleton and the eccentric stalactite, and the Basque students were also able to improve their language skills, adding a couple of new technical terms to their vocabulary: hifak (hyphae) and troglobioak (troglobites), which are part of the unique eco-system in our caves and caverns. The cavers all agreed that the moment the lights were turned off and they were plunged into total darkness was quite unforgettable…. There wasn’t a sound to be heard.