Cody Caves facts for kids
The Cody Caves are amazing natural caves found deep inside the Selkirk Mountains in British Columbia, Canada. They are located about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) north of Ainsworth Hot Springs, right next to Kootenay Lake.
These caves were first discovered in the early 1890s. To protect them, the Cody Caves Provincial Park was created in July 1966. Cody Caves is one of the most famous cave systems in British Columbia. It was also the very first underground park made in the province!
How Cody Caves Formed
The story of Cody Caves started about 600 million years ago. At that time, the rock that makes up the caves, called limestone, was formed at the bottom of an ancient sea.
Around 170 million years ago, these limestone layers were pushed upwards. This exposed the rock to water and natural acids. Over millions of years, this water slowly carved out the beautiful Cody Caves we see today.
You can explore about 800 meters (875 yards) of passageways in the caves. Inside, you'll find many cool calcite formations. These include pointy stalagmites growing up from the floor and stalactites hanging down from the ceiling. You might also see thin "soda straws" and wavy "flowstone."
One special feature is the "boxwork," which looks like delicate stone honeycombs. Cody Caves has some of the best boxwork in the world! Some pieces stick out as much as 20 centimeters (8 inches). These ancient formations grow very slowly, about one cubic centimeter every hundred years.
The warm water for the famous Ainsworth Hot Springs comes from the Cody Caves area. These hot springs are known as some of the best in British Columbia. The water inside the cave can be 40-42°C (104-108°F). In the hot springs pool, it's usually 35-38°C (95-100°F).
A Look Back in Time
Local Indigenous people probably knew about the caves for a long time. But the first recorded visit was by a prospector named Henry Cody. He was one of many who came to the Kootenays looking for silver.
The caves became very popular in 1899. An article called The Noble Five was published in Argosy Magazine. It described the caves as being "lined with gold," which made many people curious!
In 1908, a very important person visited the caves: Earl Grey, who was the Governor General of Canada.
To make sure these special caves were protected, the Cody Caves Provincial Park was created in July 1966. Because the cave formations are very delicate, you can only explore the caves with a guided tour.
Cody Caves is even part of a children's book! It's featured in The Kootenay Kidnapper by BC author Eric Wilson.
Visiting Today
Today, about 1000 people visit Cody Cave Provincial Park every summer. Visitors go on guided tours with a professional guide. There are three different tours: Adventure, Explorer, and Family. This means there's a tour for everyone!
The caves are open to all kinds of visitors. This includes experienced cavers, beginners, and families. You can also arrange special tours for schools or other groups.
In June 2010, guided tours were stopped for a while. But by June 2013, tours started up again! To help protect bats from a sickness called White-Nose Syndrome, visitors are asked not to bring caving gear from areas east of the Rocky Mountains into any BC caves. You can also find information on the park's website about how to help prevent the spread of this syndrome.
