The Caves and Karst Art Contest by the European Speleological Federation FSE; winners announced on the 4th June 2022

Biacu, Mihaela

Romania

I was born in 1982 and spent my childhood in the beautiful region of Hunedoara county, Transylvania region. During highschool I started discovering a few free time activities (skiing, trekking, climbing, canoeing) that made me get closer to nature and have a better understanding of life and a greater respect for the environment. After finishing highschool in my native town, Deva, I went to the University of Oradea and in 2005 I graduated with a Bachelor degree in Philology, Romanian-English specialization. Since then, I work as a teacher. A few years ago, I subscribed for a caving activity with a professional private firm specialized in outdoor activities. lt turned out to be the most exciting adventure I ever had. After that, I went on with my new passion and visited/explored a few more caves situated in the Apuseni Mountains. In 2021 I took part at an lntroductory Course in speleology organized by the Cristal Speleology Club from Oradea, Bihor county. After the course I became member of the the club and took part in many caving activities organized by them.

Beating Heart Beneath the Surface

The poem I wrote speaks of the feelings and emotions I experienced during my first cave visits. The poem is an expression of gratitude and admiration for the underground world and it’s meant to make other people aware of all the beauty that lies beneath the surface.