In the USA, in the state of New Mexico, nature has created an amazing underworld. In the darkness, corridors stretch and twist, creating whole labyrinths. The mysterious haze is not lifeless here - the halls and galleries are inhabited by flocks of bats. These miraculous dungeons can be found in Carlsbad Caves Park.
Despite the fact that caves are its main tourist attraction, this area includes many more interesting places. It is composed of desert, mountains and forests that deserve attention. A huge variety of animals can be found in the park. It is home to one of the largest swallow colonies.
History of the park
The caves were explored over 1000 years ago by the indigenous population. Looking for shelter, the Indians entered the caves, where they settled. Traces of their presence can be seen on the walls leading to the underworld - the Indians left mysterious drawings on them. The halls, for sure, more than once became a haven for ancient civilizations. Bonfires burned in the underground galleries, and people prayed to the gods.
Already at the end of the 19th century, the entrance to the Carlsbad Caves was rediscovered by a young man. While searching for the lost cattle, he accidentally saw a dark flock of bats rising from the hill. An inquisitive teenager discovered a dark hole in this place, which led him to the first cave in his life. It was he who became the first explorer of this underworld. He had a self-made wire ladder and a lot of enthusiasm. Opening new halls and galleries, he gave them names that are still used today.
Nevertheless, only a few were ready to believe the teenager's stories about the mysterious labyrinth of caves. Most considered them to be fictions. Only photographs were able to convince people of their existence. For the first time, pictures of the caves were exhibited in the city of Carlsbad and immediately caused a sensation. Many spectators wanted to see the amazing interweaving of the caves with their own eyes. Already 8 years later, the fame of the caves spread so much that a decree was signed to create a National Park.
Since then, a systematic study of them began. The subsoil and the variety of natural formations have attracted scientists, researchers and cavers. The park consists of 116 caves, but the main attraction is the complex of 80. They go underground to a depth of more than 300 meters, and the length of all caves reaches 12 km. The largest in area is comparable to 14 football fields. This is the most real underground kingdom with galleries, corridors and riddles.
Cave formation
Carlsbad caves were formed in a completely different way from most of the existing ones. Ordinary caves have been washed away by groundwater for millennia, but not in this case. More than 4 million years ago, in this area, water saturated with hydrogen sulfide began to seep through faults and cracks under the limestone. Mixing with ordinary rainwater and interacting with oxygen, it was converted into sulfuric acid. It was this aggressive environment that washed out the underground labyrinths of the Carlsbad caves. Several million years ago, they formed the appearance that can be observed now.
Carlsbad caves today
Not all galleries and halls are available for tourists. You can get into the main complex of 80 caves. The Cave of Massacre is separately accessible, but only as part of an organized excursion.
In the center of the study is the Lechugia cave, which is inaccessible for visits. It is the deepest in the United States, and information on the location of its entrance is carefully guarded. For a long time, the cave was not popular either among visitors or among scientists.
Until 1986, when a cave corridor was discovered under the rubble. Behind him were found countless passages and galleries, going deep underground. Cavers from all over the world come here to explore the unique underworld. The almost untouched environment in the Lechugia Cave allows the study of geological processes in it.
Bats are the trademark of the Carlsbad Caves. There are 17 species of them in the park, but most are tailless Mexican mice. Once their population numbered about a million individuals, but in modern conditions it has sharply declined. Mice live in flocks, and their diet consists exclusively of insects. Migration to Mexico takes place in autumn.
An impressive spectacle is the flight of bats from the caves and back. They move in a dense black stream, spiraling upward. You can observe this after sunset for three hours. Bats fly very close to each other at speeds of up to 40 km / h, but do not collide. This is due to the fact that nature has awarded them with a unique location system. A special amphitheater has been built in the national park, where visitors can listen to a lecture on night creatures and watch their departure.
The caves themselves deserve no less attention than the flight of bats. The excursion routes stretch through the underground kingdom for 5 km. They span 80 caves, displaying countless stalactites and stalagmites. Among them there are so thin that when the wind blows, touching each other, they emit a barely audible gentle ringing. The walls of the caves are decorated with graceful miraculous designs created by nature itself. The formed underground colonnades create the feeling that this is the palace of an unknown ruler, hiding under the earthly firmament. In the labyrinth of caves, you can even find a lake - a small reservoir with green water.
We also recommend:
- Eternal Flame Falls, New York, USA
- Horse Tail Falls, USA
- Jacob's Well in Texas, USA
- Mountains of Superstition, USA
- Trump World Tower in the USA
- Fly Geyser in the USA
For the convenience of tourists, all caves are equipped with paths, fences and lighting, so viewing the galleries will not be difficult. Descending into this natural dungeon, visitors find themselves in another world. Unknown artists and sculptors decorated the walls of caves millions of years ago. It is hard to believe that all this was created without any human intervention. The vaults and walls are adorned with a rich palette of colors - gray, blue, violet and light blue play with colors in the galleries. A visit to the Carlsbad Caves is an unforgettable experience for all tourists.
Here are some more interesting places in the USA that we recommend to visit: Thor's Well, Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell.
