Colossal Cavern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Colossal Cavern |
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An entrance to Colossal Cavern
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| Location | Kentucky, United States |
| Geology | Limestone |
Colossal Cavern is a huge cave system located in Kentucky, United States. Its main entrance is nestled at the base of a steep hill, not far from the famous Mammoth Cave.
This amazing cave is connected to another one called Bedquilt Cave. Early explorers found many rough entrances. However, these were closed when the Louisville & Nashville railway bought the land in 1896. They then created a new, easier way to get inside. The cave goes down about 240 feet (73 m) through different rock layers.
Scientists know the age of the rock by looking at fossil corals found there. Inside the cave, the temperature stays the same at 54 °F (12 °C) (about 12°C). The air is also very clean and clear. You can see cool rock formations like gypsum rosettes and helictites, which are twisted cave formations.
Contents
Exploring Colossal Cavern's Wonders
The cave shows signs of incredible natural forces. These aren't from earthquakes, but from water slowly shaping the rock over millions of years. Water's chemical and physical actions create the cave's amazing features.
Giant Rooms and Deep Pits
Two civil engineers, Edgar Vaughan and W. L. Marshall, carefully mapped every part of the cave. One famous spot is Vaughan's Dome, which is 40 feet (12 m) wide, 300 feet (91 m) long, and 79 feet (24 m) high! There are many other domes and deep pits throughout the cave.
One huge area is called the "Ruins of Carthage." It's a hall 400 by 100 feet (122 by 30 m) and 30 feet (9.1 m) high. Its flat roof is a single, massive block of limestone. Some detached blocks in this area are 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 m) long! The most impressive spot is the Colossal Dome. In the past, people could only enter it from the very top using a rope and a windlass (a type of winch) that went down 135 feet (41 m) to the floor. Today, this is used to lower a fire-basket for lighting up the huge space.
Beautiful Formations and Hidden Pools
The current main entrance has a grand gateway. It's supported by tall, white columns, one of which is 75 feet (23 m) high and named Henry Clay's Monument. The walls of the dome rise in colorful rings, each about 8 or 10 feet (2.4 or 3.0 m) thick. These rings are decorated with many stalactites hanging down. The cave's formations are very symmetrical, and sounds echo in a musical way.
In a chamber near an 86 feet (26 m) deep pit, you'll find the Pearly Pool. It sparkles with many cave pearls, which are smooth, round mineral formations. Beyond this pool, the path continues between rows of impressive columns. It ends at a flowing spring with iron-rich water.
Cave Life
You might see blind flies, spiders, beetles, and crickets in the cave. Occasionally, a blind crawfish darts through the water. Compared to some other caves, Colossal Cavern doesn't have a huge variety of animals or plants.
Connecting to Mammoth Cave
For a long time, people thought Colossal Cavern might be connected to Mammoth Cave. As early as 1911, it was believed that the valley between them was once a collapsed part of a giant cavern that joined them.
The Big Discovery
On August 22, 1960, a team of explorers named Jack Lehrberger, Spike Warner, and Dave Deamer found a connection to nearby Salts Cave. The surveys of these two caves were then linked to Collins Crystal Cave and Unknown Cave on August 21, 1961. This combined system was called the Flint Ridge Cave System. By March 1969, it was the longest surveyed cave in the world, stretching about 65 miles (105 km)!
Then, on September 9, 1972, an even bigger discovery happened. A connection was found between the Flint Ridge Cave System and Mammoth Cave! This created the massive Flint-Mammoth Cave System, which is an incredible 144 miles (232 km) long.
Images for kids
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The ADVENT videogame: "Somewhere nearby is Colossal Cave, where others have found fortunes in treasure and gold."
