If you've been following our adventures, you know that we went to Karchner Caverns in Arizona in 2009. Although we loved the tour, I groused about not being able to share the day through photos. Not so this time.
Just a few miles from Mountain View Arkansas, where we're camping, is one of the most beautiful caves in North America, and they let us take photos. Woo Hoo!
Although the pictures don't do the spectacular views justice, I can't help trying. This glistening natural sculpture stands over 30 feet high; hard to image isn't it?
Walkways have been carved into the 1.1 mile trail with lots of photo ops along the way. Can you imagine this type of natural beauty thats so common in here that eventually you stop wasting pixels on them?
This is one of the most spectacular views of the whole cavern. This is about 60 feet wide and absolutely jaw dropping. The railing on the left gives you some perspective.
This area is about 100 feet deep and 75 feet wide. Doesn't look like it does it? Dimensions are lost in the sheer size of the caverns. The "hair" hanging from the ceiling are called soda straws and are a natural formation of dripping water. It takes 100 years for a straw to grow 1 cm. Time has a different meaning down here.
This is one of the most unique formations formed by water and chemical action. Its called the "Titanic" and if you look close you can see why. Its only about 30 feet long! Amazing isn't it!
Although I have dozens of cave photos, I can see I'm losing you so lets go elsewhere. Its believed that the caves were full of water and when the water drained, the amazing formations started. This is the outlet of the caves and water has been draining from here for millions of years as the caves developed.
The water from the caves flow down this creek making a beautiful stream. What doesn't show up in the picture is the fact that the caves are full of bats and the water is very polluted from their droppings.
Drinking this water would cause diarrhea and cramps. I wonder how many natives or pioneers became sick from the water and didn't know why.
The water flows into this lake which was used for a grist mill and and ran a water wheel.
I guess, somewhere down stream, the waters fine. Its a lovely area and its great to finally show the inside of a beautiful cave system. What amazes us is that every area we camp at seems to have some historical or geological claim to fame. So, we'll keep looking and informing our loyal audience. Its a tough job.
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