Visiting Mammoth Caves

So far on my travels to Kentucky, the only outdoor experience I have was in the rural south. The land here is filled with plenty of sinkholes and caves, something you might not necessarily expect in Kentucky. The most famous of them all is Mammoth Cave, both a national park and a World Heritage Site. A simple hike through the woods here would give you little hint that you’re walking above the longest known cave system in the world!

Exploring Mammoth Cave

Not only is Mammoth Cave the longest known cave system in the world, it’s more than double the length of the world’s next longest cave. When I first visited, Mammoth Cave totaled about 364 miles (585 kilometers) of explored passages. As new branches and connections are constantly being discovered, that number has since grown considerably. Of the portions of the cave that I walked, this area above was one of the most open and was well lit by permanent light fixtures.

Native Americans explored Mammoth Cave thousands of years ago, leaving behind artifacts, markings and even human remains that were later discovered inside. Europeans began exploring the cave much later, and by the 19th century organized tours were already taking visitors underground. Early tourists left their names throughout parts of the cave, and because of the protected environment many of these markings have survived. Above are some of the names left behind by visitors during the early 20th century.

Wildlife Underground

The cave is also home to some unique wildlife. This camel cricket is probably one of my least favorite bugs in the world, but it was the only cave animal I was able to photograph. Some more interesting wildlife includes several species of bats, rodents and other insects, along with blind cave fish and cave shrimp. Animals that spend their entire lives in darkness can lose much of their pigmentation and eyesight, giving some of the cave’s permanent residents an almost translucent appearance.

Cave Formations

Most people are aware of how stalactites and stalagmites form. Water slowly moving through the rock carries dissolved minerals into the cave. As water drips from the ceiling, tiny amounts of these minerals are left behind and can build into formations over thousands of years. Stalactites grow downward from the ceiling, while stalagmites form on the ground and grow upward. Given enough time, the two can eventually meet and form a column. The photo above shows water dripping from the ceiling, while below are some of the largest stalagmites that I came across in Mammoth Cave.

I have a friend who is one of the most adventurous people I know, but I remember he once said that after you’ve seen one cave, you’ve seen them all. I never agreed with that statement, and if there’s any cave to prove that wrong it’s Mammoth Cave. Beyond simply looking at stalactites and stalagmites, the enormous network of passages offers everything from easy walking tours to much more adventurous cave trips. The formation above was one of my favorites that I saw, while the underground river below was one of the most impressive views from my visit.