Cova des Coloms facts for kids
Cova des Coloms means Cave of the Pigeons in the Catalan language. It is a huge natural cave found on the Spanish island of Menorca. This amazing cave is located in the Binigaus gully. It has been named a Bien de Interés Cultural, which means it's a very important cultural site.
The cave's ceiling is about 24 meters (79 feet) high. It goes deep into the ground for about 100 meters (328 feet). The entrance to the cave is wide, about 15 meters (49 feet) across. You can walk to the cave from the village of Es Migjorn Gran. Just follow the path that leads to Binigaus beach.
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Where is Cova des Coloms?
This impressive cave is in the Binigaus gully. It's about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) southeast of Es Migjorn Gran. The best part is that you can visit it for free!
The closest place to park your car is near the local graveyard. From there, you can follow a clearly marked path. This path is on a private gravel road. When you get to the turn-off for the cave's entrance, you'll see an information sign. This sign, put up by the town hall, gives details in Catalan, Spanish, and English.
What does the cave look like?
Cova des Coloms is truly massive! It is 110 meters (361 feet) deep and 15 meters (49 feet) wide. The ceiling reaches an impressive 24 meters (79 feet) high. Because of its huge size, people often call it "the Cathedral."
The cave has two main parts. First, there's a large central room that is about 50 meters (164 feet) deep. After this big room, there's a long, narrow hallway.
A look into the past
Long ago, during the Talaiotic Period (from about 550 BC to 123 BC), Cova des Coloms was used as a burial site. This means people from that time buried their dead here.
In the 1890s, a French expert named Émile Cartailhac explored the cave. He discovered pieces of ceramic pottery and human bones. Later, between 1914 and 1915, another archaeologist named Antonio Vives Escudero continued the excavations. He found more ceramic pots and two objects made of bronze. These finds help us learn about the ancient people who lived on Menorca.
Protecting this special cave
Cova des Coloms has been officially protected since 1966. It is listed as a Bien de Interés Cultural, which is a special status in Spain. This means it's a site of great cultural importance and is preserved for future generations. Its official registration number from the Spanish Ministry of Culture is RI-51-0003660.
See also
In Spanish: Cueva des Coloms para niños
