| Motena Cave Natural Monument | |
| Iucn Category: | III |
| Map: | Georgia#Georgia Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti |
| Relief: | 1 |
| Coordinates: | 42.4766°N 42.3912°W |
| Established: | 2007 |
| Governing Body: | Agency of Protected Areas |
| Website: | მოთენას მღვიმის ბუნების ძეგლი |
Motena Cave Natural Monument (Georgian: მოთენას მღვიმე) is a karst cave located 0.7 km to the south from village First Balda (Pirveli Baldi [1]) in Martvili Municipality in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region of Georgia, 437 meters above sea level.[2] Cave is located on left bank of Abasha river. In Middle Ages Motena cave was integral part of the now lost fortress.
Motena Cave is a karst cave, formed in Askhi karst massif. The total length of the cave is 75 m.It has two storey with big hall on each connected by a narrow passage. The first hall is 30 m in length and 24–25 m in height.[3] Cave is naturally decorated with many stalactites, stalagmites, travertine cascades and cave curtains.[4] [5] Part of the cave has collapsed and mortared stone wall is protecting cave interior.[6]
The inhabitants of the cave are spiders and insects, namely Trachysphaera, Heteromurus, Lepidocyrtus, Tomocerus, Sphaerozetes, Chamobates, Porobelba, Adaugammarus, Parasitus, Pergamasus, Xiphocaridinella,[7] Troglocaridicola, Scutariella, and Tectocepheus. [8]