“The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand.” – Frank Herbert
At 230 km, Cave Lechuguilla is one of the five longest caves in the world. It is named after a plant (Agave lechuguilla) found in the immediate proximity of the entrance.
Lechuguilla is located in Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico, USA), and is situated in the Guadalupe mountain range. The geologists have found extremely rare speleothemes (secondary mineral deposits) in the cave in the form of large amounts of gypsum and lemon-yellow sulfur deposits. Enormous gypsum chandeliers, hydromagnesite balloons, cave pearls (a concretion of calcium salts), thin and sharp stalactites and peculiar forms of stalagmites complement the enchanting atmosphere of the “underworld”.
Photo: n3pb
No comments so far ↓
Nobody has commented yet. Be the first!
Comment