"Basaic Carlsbad Caverns National Park Page" Top 5 Page for this destination Carlsbad Caverns National Park by Basaic
Carlsbad Caverns National Park Travel Guide: 149 reviews and 374 photos
Carlsbad Caverns became a national park in 1930. The formation of the cavern, however, began much earlier. Approximately 250,000,000 years ago the remains of sponges, algae, and seashells created a 400-mile limestone reef in the inland sea that existed here at the time. The reef was pushed up by forces below the surface and it developed cracks. This uplift is also what formed the nearby Guadalupe Mountains. Eventually the sea evaporated and the reef was buried under many layers of gypsum and salts. Water coming down from the surface combined with water rich with Hydrogen Sulfide gas from oil and gas fields below the surface to form Sulfuric Acid. This acid formed the large chambers you see today. More recently, about 500,000 years ago, the stalactites, stalagmites, and other formations you see began to form as limestone rich water seeped through the earth and dripped into the air-filled cave.
There are a number of different types of formations in the cavern including this one which is called "lion's tails".
There are a few pullouts on the road into the park including one that has a short paved trail leading to an overlook of Walnut Canyon.
- In a nutshell:Well worth a visit!!
The Big Room Trail is 1.5 miles long, paved and relatively flat. The paving can be slippery when wet. Good walking... more travel advice
I am not actually sure what this type of formation of stalagmite is called; but it kinda reminded me of an old... more travel advice
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