Crystal Cavern facts for kids
Crystal Cavern, also known as Alabama Caverns and McCluney Cave, is a small cavern (a natural underground cave) in Clay, Alabama, USA. It is famous for its beautiful crystal formations.
Contents
The History of Crystal Cavern
Discovery and Early Uses
A person named Thomas McCluney discovered Crystal Cavern in 1840. During the American Civil War (from 1861 to 1865), the cave was used to mine saltpeter. Saltpeter was an important ingredient for making gunpowder.
A Tourist Attraction
Crystal Cavern later became a popular place for tourists to visit. It first opened in 1927 as Alabama Caverns, but it closed soon after. By 1941, it had reopened and was renamed "Crystal Caverns."
At that time, the cave had electric lights. The entrance fee was 25 cents, which is about $5.30 today (equivalent to $5 in 2022). Visitors could see "beautiful formations" inside, including ones that looked like "metallic draperies."
However, not everyone was impressed. In 1946, a biologist named Edward McCrady said it was "the poorest commercialized cave" he had ever seen.
Upgrades and Closure
In the early 1960s, the cave's facilities were improved. By 1966, it even had camping areas with showers and restrooms. People described it as a "fairyland."
Crystal Cavern stopped being a tourist attraction in the late 1960s. Today, it is owned by private individuals.
Cold War Shelter
During the Cold War, a time of tension between countries, Crystal Cavern had another important role. It was chosen as a fallout shelter. This meant it could protect up to 1045 people in case of an emergency.
The Geology of Crystal Cavern
How the Cave Formed
Crystal Cavern is part of the Chickamauga Limestone rock layer. It sits about 100 feet (30 meters) above another rock layer called the Copper Ridge Dolomite. The cave formed along a crack in the rock when the Appalachian Mountains were created. This happened at the end of the Paleozoic Era, millions of years ago.
In 1933, reports described the cave as a narrow passage. It stretched for 800 feet (244 meters) and had several sharp turns. The cave's height reached up to 80 feet (24 meters) in some places.
Amazing Cave Formations
Inside the cavern, you can find many interesting cave formations. These include "onyx crusts and rosettes," which are beautiful mineral growths. There are also stalactites (which hang from the ceiling) and stalagmites (which grow from the floor). One formation even looked like a "petrified waterfall."
Two famous formations were named the "Capitol Dome" and the "Family Loft." The Capitol Dome was a part of a wall that looked like the dome of the United States Capitol building. The Family Loft was a high area with two large columns and smaller stalagmites.
Water Features
The cavern also contained a water spring in a pit. In 1933, this spring was about 20 feet (6 meters) above the water table. It was fed by small drips during rainy seasons. In 1946, the pool was described as less than a foot deep and very clear.
Animals Living in Crystal Cavern
Crystal Cavern is home to some unique creatures.
- The pseudoscorpion Aphrastochthonius pecki was first found and described here in 1968.
- Peck's cave snail (Glyphyalinia pecki) is another creature found in the cave.
- The McCluney cave cricket (Euhadenoecus insolitus) was described in 1978. Scientists collected specimens of this cricket from the cavern in 1965.
A white salamander was once seen in the cave's pool. However, later observations found the pool empty of life. It is thought the salamander might have entered the cave through one of its many cracks.
See also
