Cueva de los Verdes facts for kids
The Cueva de los Verdes is a special cave system on the island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, Spain. Its name means "Verdes' cave" in Spanish, named after a family who once lived nearby. This cave is part of a protected area called the Monumento Natural del Malpaís de La Corona.
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How the Cave Was Formed
This incredible cave was created about 3,000 years ago. It happened when hot lava flowed from a nearby volcano called Monte Corona. As the lava moved towards the sea, its top layer cooled down and became solid. But the lava underneath kept flowing, creating a hollow tunnel. When the lava finally drained away, it left behind this amazing cave.
What is a Lava Tube?
A lava tube is like a natural tunnel formed by flowing lava. Imagine a river of lava. If the top of the river cools and hardens, it forms a roof. The lava inside keeps flowing, and when it's all gone, you're left with a long, empty tunnel. That's a lava tube!
What are Jameos?
Sometimes, the roof of a lava tube can collapse. When this happens, it creates an open hole or a large pit. These openings are called jameos (pronounced "hah-MAY-ohs") in Spanish. There are about 20 of these jameos in the Cueva de los Verdes system. One of them is the main entrance to the cave for visitors.
Exploring the Cave
The Cueva de los Verdes is a very long cave system. It stretches for about 6 kilometers (almost 4 miles) above sea level. It also goes another 1.5 kilometers (about 1 mile) under the sea! This underwater part is known as the Tunnel de la Atlantida.
In the 1960s, about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) of the cave were made safe and fun for tourists to explore. Colorful lights were added to show off the amazing rock formations and make the cave even more magical.
The Cave's Concert Hall
Near the entrance and exit of the Cueva de los Verdes, there's a special concert hall! This unique hall can hold up to 500 people. It has about 15 to 20 rows, with 26 seats in each row. Imagine listening to music in such an ancient and natural space!
A Safe Place in the Past
For many centuries, the Cueva de los Verdes was a very important hiding place for the people of Lanzarote. They would hide inside the cave to protect themselves from various attackers who came from the sea, trying to capture people. The cave offered a safe refuge during dangerous times.
See also
In Spanish: Cueva de los Verdes para niños
