Bluespring Caverns facts for kids
Bluespring Caverns is an amazing cave system found in Lawrence County, Indiana. It's about 80 miles (128 km) south of Indianapolis. This cave is a special type called a karst and river cave. It collects water from a large area of sinkholes. The cave has about 21 miles (34 km) of explored passages. It's most famous for having the longest known underground river in the United States, with about 3 miles (5 km) that you can travel by boat!
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How Bluespring Caverns Was Found
People knew about this cave system way back in the 1800s. Until 1913, the main way into the cave was through a spring that flowed into the White River. But a dam built in 1913 closed off this entrance.
A new entrance appeared in 1940 after a big storm. A small pond on George Colglazier's farm suddenly disappeared overnight. It became a sinkhole, which is now the entrance we use today. George and Eva Colglazier owned the farm. Their children, especially their sons Norman, James, Lee, and Daniel, loved exploring the new cave.
Soon, news of the large opening at Bluespring Caverns spread. The Colglazier family welcomed visitors from all over the world. They never charged money for people to explore. They were dairy farmers and simply asked visitors to follow one rule: "not to destroy or remove from the caverns."
Cave Rocks and Temperature
Bluespring Caverns formed in two different kinds of limestone. These rock layers are separated by a thin layer of shale. The two types of limestone are:
The cave stays at a cool 54°F (14°C) all year long. This constant temperature makes it a unique environment.
Amazing Cave Animals
Many different kinds of animals live in Bluespring Caverns. You might see crayfish, salamanders, crickets, spiders, and beetles.
One of the most special animals here is the rare Northern cavefish. This fish cannot see, but it thrives in the dark cave waters. A small number of bats also call this cave home, especially during the winter. However, the cave often floods, which makes it hard for bats to live there all year.
Visiting Bluespring Caverns
You can visit Bluespring Caverns Park to explore this amazing place. The most popular activity is an hour-long boat ride. You travel on the underground river in a special boat with lights. These boat tours are offered from April through October.
The park also has overnight adventures for youth groups. These special trips happen from October through April.
Bluespring Caverns is one of four "show caves" in Indiana. Show caves are caves that are open for public tours. The other three are Marengo Cave, Wyandotte Caves, and Squire Boone Caverns. There's also Twin Caves, located in Spring Mill State Park. Twin Caves offers a 20-minute boat tour that goes about 600 feet (183 meters) into the cave.
Quick Cave Facts
Here are some interesting facts about Bluespring Caverns:
- It is the 29th longest cave in the United States.
- It is the 109th longest cave in the world.
- It is the 3rd longest cave in the state of Indiana.
