Princess Margaret Rose Cave facts for kids

The Princess Margaret Rose Cave is a stunning limestone cave located in the Lower Glenelg National Park in Victoria, Australia. This amazing underground world is famous for its beautiful and actively growing cave formations. You can see sparkling stalactites (hanging from the ceiling), stalagmites (growing from the floor), and twisted helictites. Many people say it's one of the most decorated caves in Australia, meaning it has lots of these incredible formations! The cave is named after Princess Margaret.

Discovering This Amazing Cave

Inside the cave (2016)

Even though Aboriginal people knew about the cave for a long time, it was officially "discovered" by European explorers in 1936. Three people, S. McEachern, J. "Bunny" Hutchesson, and his son Alan, found it. They saw the potential for others to enjoy its beauty.

Soon after its discovery, they started to turn the cave into a tourist attraction. This means they made it safe and easy for visitors to explore. Bunny Hutchesson became the first full-time guide, leading tours from 1941. Imagine being one of the first people to show off such a cool place!

Since 1980, the Princess Margaret Rose Cave has been a special part of the Lower Glenelg National Park. Today, you can still take guided tours that last about half an hour. It's a great way to learn about caves and see these natural wonders up close.

How the Cave Formed

The Princess Margaret Rose Cave was formed in a type of rock called limestone. This limestone was created a very long time ago, between about 35 and 15 million years ago! Back then, this area was covered by a shallow sea. Over millions of years, tiny sea creatures and shells settled on the seabed, slowly turning into the soft limestone rock we see today.

Caves like this form when rainwater, which is slightly acidic, seeps through cracks in the limestone. Over thousands and millions of years, this water slowly dissolves the rock, creating tunnels and large chambers underground. The amazing stalactites, stalagmites, and helictites form as water drips and leaves behind tiny bits of minerals. It's a very slow process, but it creates incredible natural art!

Images for kids

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  Inside the cave (2019)