New St. Michael's Cave facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New St. Michael's Cave |
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| Lower St. Michael's Cave | |
Various speleothem at New St. Michael's Cave.
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| Discovery | 1942 |
| Geology | Limestone |
| Entrances | 1 |
| Access | Organised tours |
| Show cave opened | Yes |
| Show cave length | 200 metres (660 ft) |
| Lighting | Fully lit |
| Features | Almost all known speleothem and lake. |
New St. Michael's Cave, also called Lower St. Michael's Cave, is an amazing cave system. You can find it in Gibraltar, a British territory. People have known about the main St. Michael's Cave for over 2,000 years. But this special cave was only found recently, during World War II.
Contents
How the Cave Was Found
An Accidental Discovery
This cave was found by accident during World War II in 1942. Soldiers called the Royal Engineers were working inside the Rock of Gibraltar. They were using explosives to make a new entrance. This entrance was for the lower parts of St. Michael's Cave. That area was being set up as an emergency hospital.
The Big Surprise
As the soldiers blasted, something strange happened. No rock rubble came out. The ground had fallen away into a hidden space. This space was a brand new cave! It might have been sealed off for as long as 20,000 years.
Inside the Cave
Amazing Rock Formations
The cave has many different rooms. Inside, you can see almost every type of cave formation. These formations are called speleothems. They are natural rock shapes that grow over thousands of years. Think of them like nature's sculptures!
The Clear Lake
One of the cave's coolest features is a lake. It is almost 40 yards (37 m) long. The water in the lake is super clear. It holds about 45,000 imperial gallons (200,000 L) of water.
Who Looked After the Cave?
Military Control
After World War II ended, the cave was looked after by the military. The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence was in charge. Specifically, the Royal Engineers supervised every visitor.
Civilian Guides Take Over
It wasn't until the 1970s that regular people could be guides. Within ten years, all the guides were civilians. The Gibraltar Tourist Board then took over managing the cave. They took over from the military.
Visiting the Cave
You can take a guided tour of New St. Michael's Cave. These tours usually last about three hours. The tour ends with a chance to see the amazing underground lake.
