Dr. Kubassek János szerk.: A Kárpát-medence természeti értékei (Érd, 2004)
Dr. Péter Rózsa: Robert Townson (1762-1827): a pioneer scientific explorer of the Carpathian Basin
Linnens, »Ubicunque pumices copiosiores, ibi quondam vivi vuicani exstitere, licet dudum emortui & oblivioni traditi 18 «." 19 From science-historical point of view, one of the most valuable parts of Townson's Travels in Hungary are descriptions and observations made in the Tokaj Mountains. He knew surprisingly well the literature concerning these mountains, and, comparing it with his own observations, he formed a remarkable correct and balanced standpoint. Beside Fichtel and Esmark, Robert Townson should be regarded as one of the pioneers of geological exploration of the Tokaj Mountains (RÓZSA P. - SZAKÁLL S., 1999; RÓZSA, P. et al, 2003). WO caves were brought to Townson's notice in Kassa: the first was said to vrs^ be so huge that its end had not been found (Baradla cave) , and there was summer frost and winter thawing in the other (Lednica ice-cave) . He began his trip to visit these caves on 12 July. He arrived at Tornanádaska in the evening, and he was the host of Countess Gyulai. He wrote on this area as it follows: "The hills here, which are very high, are of unstratified compact limestone, without any petrifications, but it is full of holes; some of these are so deep, and at the same time so round, that they look as if they had formed by art, " 2{) It was the first time that potholes of Alsó-hegy rising over the Bódva Valley were mentioned in the literature (DÉNES GY., 1970; HADOBÁS S., 1999) • He left Tornanádaska for Aggtelek early in the morning, and reached this village early in the afternoon 13 June. He walked out to the entrance of the cave as soon as the evening of that day to do temperature measurements both outside and inside, because, as he wrote, he intended to ascertain the medium temperature of this part of Hungary. 21 His premise, that is the almost constant temperature of caves may be quite similar to the annual mean temperature of the given area, is very logical. 22 In the cave, at the side of a rock, he measured 7.5 degrees of Reaumur (9.4 °C). This data is in good agreement with the average value of 10.7 °C, which was reconstructed for the decade of the 1790's by historical records. 23 He focused on the difference of 0.5 degree of Reaumur between the temperature of the stream running in the cave and that of the air. Although, he did not give any explanation to it, nevertheless he raised some questions about the possible reasons: o — m o TOWNSON'S VISIT AT THE CAVES NEAR AGGTELEK VILLAGE
