Crystal Cave, Bermuda Facts for Kids

Crystal Cave, Bermuda

Crystal Cave is an amazing cave in Bermuda, a British territory. It's found in Hamilton Parish, near Castle Harbour. The cave is about 500 meters long and 62 meters deep. The lowest part, about 19 to 20 meters, is underwater. This cave formed a long time ago when the sea level was much lower. As the sea rose, many beautiful cave formations that grew above water became covered by it.

How Crystal Cave Was Found
Exploring the Caves
Fantasy Cave: A Neighboring Wonder
Visiting the Caves
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How Crystal Cave Was Found

Crystal Cave became a popular place for visitors in 1907. But it was actually discovered two years earlier, in 1905. Two 12-year-old boys named Carl Gibbons and Edgar Hollis found it while they were looking for a lost cricket ball.

Soon after, the Wilkinson family, who owned the land, heard about the discovery. Mr. Percy Wilkinson bravely lowered his 14-year-old son, Bernard, into the cave. Bernard used a bicycle lamp for light and was tied to a tree with 140 feet of strong rope to explore the cave.

Exploring the Caves

The area around Harrington Sound, which is south of Crystal Cave, is made of limestone. This means there are many underground rivers and passages. Through these, water from Harrington Sound flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Crystal Cave is one of these amazing underground places.

As its name suggests, Crystal Cave is known for its incredible beauty. You can see many sparkling stalactites (which hang from the ceiling) and stalagmites (which grow from the floor). There are also deep, clear pools of water. Sadly, some of these crystal formations have been damaged by earthquakes that happened a very long time ago.

Fantasy Cave: A Neighboring Wonder

When you visit Crystal Cave, you can also explore the nearby Fantasy Cave. Fantasy Cave is even deeper, with 88 steps leading down into it. It was discovered and opened around the same time as Crystal Cave. However, the owners closed it in the 1940s.

Fantasy Cave was reopened in the summer of 2001. All the pathways inside were rebuilt, and new lights were added to show off its beauty.

Visiting the Caves

Both Crystal Cave and Fantasy Cave are located at 8 Crystal Caves Road, near Wilkinson Avenue. You can easily get there by bus if you're traveling between Hamilton and St. George's Parishes. Taxis, motorbikes, and bicycles are also good ways to reach the caves.

Outside the caves, there's a lovely sub-tropical garden. It's filled with palm trees and many other kinds of beautiful trees and flowers. The caves are owned by the local Wilkinson Trust and are open for everyone to visit.