Crystal Cave (Sequoia National Park) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crystal Cave |
|
|---|---|
Calcite formations in Crystal Cave
|
|
| Location | Sequoia National Park, Tulare County, California, United States |
| Length | 2.42 miles (3.89 km) |
| Discovery | April 28, 1918 by Alex Medley and Cassius Webster |
| Geology | Marble |
| Access | Fee |
Crystal Cave is an amazing cave located inside Sequoia National Park in California. It's special because it's made from a type of rock called marble. This cave is one of over 240 known caves in the park, but it's the only one that visitors like you can explore!
Crystal Cave is found in the famous Giant Forest area of the park. This is between the park's Ash Mountain entrance and the Giant Forest museum.
Contents
Discovering Crystal Cave
Crystal Cave was first found on April 28, 1918. Two explorers, Alex Medley and Cassius Webster, were the ones who stumbled upon its hidden entrance. Imagine being the first people to see such a beautiful underground world!
Inside Crystal Cave
When you step inside Crystal Cave, you'll notice it's always the same temperature. It stays at a cool 48 degrees Fahrenheit (about 9 degrees Celsius) all year round. This constant temperature helps to keep the cave's delicate formations safe.
What is Marble?
Crystal Cave is known as a "marble cave." Marble is a type of rock that forms when another rock, usually limestone, gets heated and squeezed deep inside the Earth. This process makes the rock very hard and often gives it beautiful patterns.
Cave Formations
Inside Crystal Cave, you'll see many amazing formations made of a mineral called calcite. These formations grow very slowly over thousands of years as water drips through the rock. Some common formations you might see include:
- Stalactites: These hang down from the cave ceiling, like icicles.
- Stalagmites: These grow up from the cave floor, often directly below stalactites.
- Flowstones: These look like frozen waterfalls, forming when water flows over cave walls and floors.
- Draperies: These are thin, wavy sheets of rock that hang from the ceiling, looking like curtains.
Visiting Crystal Cave
If you want to visit Crystal Cave, you can only go with a guided tour. These tours are led by experts from the Sequoia Park Conservancy. It's important to remember that you cannot buy tickets at the cave itself. You need to buy your tickets online beforehand through Recreation.Gov. This helps manage the number of visitors and protect the cave.
