Cave of El Soplao facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cave of El SoplaoCueva de El Soplao Cueva d'El Sopláu |
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 Cave of El Soplao
Cueva de El Soplao Cueva d'El Sopláu Location in Spain
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| Location | Rionansa, Valdáliga and Herrerías municipalities, Cantabria, Spain |
| Nearest city | San Vicente de la Barquera |
The El Soplao Cave (also called El Sopláu in Cantabrian) is a special cave in Cantabria, Spain. It is found in the towns of Rionansa, Valdáliga, and Herrerías. This cave is famous for its amazing and unique rock formations. These formations are called speleothems.
The cave is about 17 miles (27 kilometers) long. About 6 miles (10 kilometers) of it are open for people to visit. Inside, you can see incredible shapes like helictites. These are like strange stalactites that grow in all directions, seeming to ignore gravity. You can also see "curtains," which are thin, wavy sheets of rock hanging from the ceiling.
El Soplao Cave formed a very long time ago. It started forming in the Cretaceous period, about 240 million years ago. The main entrance to the cave is high up, at 540 meters (1,770 feet) in the Sierra Soplao Arnero mountains.
Miners first found the cave by accident while drilling for minerals. For many years, people used the cave for mining. This helped local families earn money, along with their farming. After a long time, the cave was left alone. Then, in 1975, a group of cave explorers from Cantabria University started studying it. They discovered how truly special its geology was.
On July 1, 2005, the Government of Cantabria opened the cave to the public. They made it safe for visitors and shared its beauty with the world. Since then, scientists have continued to study the cave. They have found ancient amber deposits and special underground stromatolites. These stromatolites are formed by tiny bacteria that use manganese. They also found a new type of mineral called zaccagnaite-3R.
Recently, the El Soplao Cave has also become a place for music concerts. Famous artists have performed inside the cave for many people. El Soplao is one of at least 6,500 caves in the Cantabria region.
Contents
Where is El Soplao Cave?
The El Soplao Cave is located in the Sierra de Arnero mountains. These mountains are part of a larger range called the Sierra del Escudo de Cabuérniga. The cave sits between the towns of Rionansa, Herrerías, and Valdáliga. It is also close to the town of San Vicente de la Barquera.
The Sierra de Arnero mountains run next to the Cantabrian Sea. Their highest point is 682 meters (2,238 feet) above sea level. You can reach the cave easily by using the Cantabrian motorway.
Exploring the Galleries
El Soplao is a huge network of caves. It has many passages and rooms on different levels. Here are some facts about its size:
- The natural cave passages explored are about 12,585 meters (7.8 miles) long.
- There are also old mining tunnels connected to the cave, about 3,240 meters (2 miles) long.
- The nearby Lacuerre Caves add another 2,927 meters (1.8 miles).
- In total, the whole cave system is about 17,852 meters (11 miles) long.
Gallery of the Ghosts
This is a large natural room. It has many thick, white stalagmites that grow from the ground. These formations look like ghosts, which is how the gallery got its name. The gallery is 350 meters (1,150 feet) long. Some parts are as wide as 35 meters (115 feet). Miners used this gallery a lot in the early 1900s to dig up and store minerals.
Gallery Gorda
This gallery is one of the biggest rooms in the cave. It even has a natural underground lake. This is often the first gallery visitors see in El Soplao. Its name means "Fat Gallery," which came from a caver who felt very small inside it. Special lights in this gallery show off the amazing colors of the stalactites. These hang from the ceiling and are covered with tiny calcite helictites.
Gallery of the False Floor
This is a smaller room. It features amazing rock formations that look like thin threads. These threads twist and turn everywhere, creating a unique sight.
Gallery of the Camp
This gallery is of medium size, about 10 meters (33 feet) wide. It got its name because cave explorers set up a research camp here. They stayed here for 208 hours during their first explorations. You can see beautiful rock formations here. They are colored red and white from different minerals in the area.
Gallery of the Cauliflower
In this gallery, you will see huge stalagmites. Many of them are eccentric, meaning they grow in unusual ways. Sometimes, they even connect with the cave ceiling. You can also spot signs of an earthquake that once shook this area.
Gallery of the Forest
This is a tall gallery. It is named because it looks like a natural forest. Stalactites and stalagmites have grown together everywhere. They form many large and varied columns. Just like in the Gallery of the Cauliflower, you can see traces of an old earthquake here.
Gallery Genesis
This gallery is located on the eastern side of the cave. It is one of the highest, reaching 30 meters (98 feet) tall. It is also quite long, over 160 meters (525 feet). You will see impressive sheets of rock and giant stalagmites here. Its name, "Genesis," comes from the many colors you can see. These colors are from different salts dissolved in the water.
Other Galleries to Explore
- Gallery of Bridge
- Gallery of the Mermaid
- Gallery Columns
- Gallery Grey
- Gallery of the Avalanche
- Gallery of the Goat
- Gallery the Wonders
- Gallery Wet
Minerals and Fossils Found
Scientists have found many interesting minerals and fossils in El Soplao Cave. Here is a list of some of them:
Fossils
- Amarantoraphidia ventolina
- Amber (fossilized tree resin)
- Black amber
- Cantabroraphidia marcanoi
- Necroraphidia arcuata
Minerals
- Aragonite
- Calcite
- Dolomite
- Sphalerite
- Galena
- Marcasite
- Pyrite
See also
In Spanish: Cueva de El Soplao para niños
- Caves in Cantabria
