Tory Cave (Albany, New York) facts for kids
The Tory Cave is a fascinating limestone cave located in the Helderberg Escarpment in New York. A limestone cave is a natural underground space formed in rock that dissolves easily, like limestone. The Helderberg Escarpment is a long, steep slope of land, almost like a cliff, made of ancient rock layers.
The cave's name comes from a story from the American Revolution. During this war, people who stayed loyal to the British king were called "Tories" or Loyalists. The story says that a Tory hid in this cave to escape from American rebels. Some tales even mention a Loyalist named Jacob Salsbury who used the cave. He was said to report on the movements of the rebel troops to the British.
Exploring Tory Cave
Tory Cave is found near the top of the Helderberg Escarpment. This makes it a unique spot for visitors and nature lovers.
Amazing Ice Formations
One of the most exciting things to see in Tory Cave happens in the springtime. You can find visually interesting ice stalagmites inside. Stalagmites are formations that grow upwards from the cave floor, usually made of minerals. In Tory Cave, these are made of ice!
Other caves in the area do not have these large ice stalagmites. According to Jim Gould, who wrote a book called Rooted in Rock, there's a special reason for this. A partial rock fall inside Tory Cave blocks air currents. These drafts would normally prevent large stalagmites from forming. Because the air is still, the ice stalagmites can grow big and impressive.
