Seneca Caverns (Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Seneca Caverns |
|
|---|---|
A subterranean gallery in Seneca Caverns.
|
|
| Location | Flat Rock, Ohio |
| Depth | Unknown |
| Length | Unknown |
| Discovery | 1872 |
| Geology | Columbus Limestone and Lucas Dolomite |
| Entrances | One |
| Access | Fee |
Seneca Caverns is a cool show cave you can visit in Ohio, USA. It's in the northeastern part of Seneca County, near a small town called Flat Rock. This amazing cave is so special that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has named it a Registered Natural Landmark.
Contents
Discovering Seneca Caverns
How the Cave Was Found
Imagine two boys, Peter Rutan and Henry Homer, out hunting rabbits in June 1872. Their dog chased a rabbit into a pile of brush and then vanished! When the boys looked closer, they found a hidden opening. They accidentally fell through and landed in the first part of a cave, where they found their dog.
From Good's Cave to Seneca Caverns
The boys rushed home to share their exciting discovery. The cave was first called Good's Cave. This was because Emmanuel Good owned the farm where the cave was found. Years later, in 1931, a lawyer named Don Bell explored the cave even more. He found many new tunnels and rooms. He even discovered an underground river! This river is called Ole' Mist'ry River. It's part of a huge water system under the ground.
After two and a half years of hard work to make the cave safe and fun for visitors, it was renamed Seneca Caverns. It officially opened to the public on May 14, 1933.
Exploring the Cave Levels
Seneca Caverns has many different levels, like floors in a building, but underground! Seven of these levels are open for you to explore on a tour.
The Upper Levels (Open to Visitors)
- Level 1: This is called the "Foyer." It's where you enter and exit the cave. It's about 20 feet (6 meters) underground.
- Level 2: You'll find the "Fossil Room" here. It's about 30 feet (9 meters) below the surface.
- Level 3: This level is known as "Chert Alley." It's about 55 feet (17 meters) underground.
- Level 4: This is the biggest level! It includes "Inscription Hall," "Cathedral Hall," and "West Hall." It ranges from 60 to 65 feet (18 to 20 meters) deep and is 250 feet (76 meters) long.
- Level 5: Here, you start to see a different type of rock called Lucas Dolomite. It's about 80 feet (24 meters) underground. In the spring, water often reaches this level.
- Level 6: This is the smallest level, about 95 to 100 feet (29 to 30 meters) deep. Water usually fills this level in early to mid-summer.
- Level 7: This is the "River Room," about 110 feet (34 meters) underground. You can often see the water here in late summer and autumn.
The Deeper, Flooded Levels
There are even deeper parts of Seneca Caverns! These lower levels are usually filled with water. They have only been explored during very dry times.
- Level 8: This level is flooded. It was part of early tours in the 1930s but is not on the tour today.
- Levels 9-12: These levels are also flooded. Level 12 is about 220 feet (67 meters) underground. This is the deepest any person has ever gone in the cave!
- Levels 13+: There might be even more levels below, but they are still a mystery!
Images for kids
-
Entrance sign
-
Visitor's center
-
Gift shop
-
The oldest graffiti in Seneca Caverns. It reads: "C. Dreese 1872".
-
Submerged stairway leading down from the sixth to the seventh level of Seneca Caverns.
