Spelio - this one is for you. There will be more. I don't always jump around in my Flickr photostream. But life can be short, especially for humans underground. I will add more speleology photos later. I was lucky to secure permits for the once monthly photography tour of Kartchner Caverns. Kartchner Caverns State Park strictly forbids any cameras or cellphones in the Caverns. I planned a 4 day 3 night road trip around Southern Arizona anchored by my Kartchner Cavern permit.
Long hidden from view, the caverns were discovered in by local cavers, assisted by state biologist Erick Campbell who helped in its preservation. The park encompasses most of a down-dropped block of Palaeozoic rocks on the east flank of the Whetstone Mountains.
The caverns are carved out of limestone and filled with spectacular speleothems which have been growing for 50, years or longer, and are still growing. Careful and technical cave state park development and maintenance, initially established by founder Dr. Bruce Randall "Randy" Tufts, geologist, were designed to protect and preserve the cave system throughout the park's development, and for perpetuity. The two major features of the caverns accessible to the public are the Throne Room and the Big Room.
The Throne Room contains one of the world's longest 21 ft 2 in 6. The Big Room contains the world's most extensive formation of brushite moonmilk. Big Room cave tours are closed during the summer for several months April 15 to October 15 each year because it is a nursery roost for cave bats, however the Throne Room tours remain open year-round.
Many different cave formations can be found within the caves and the surrounding park. These include cave bacon, helictites, soda straws, stalactites, stalagmites and others.
