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Limestone rock masses, eroded over time by running streams, have become the caves of Indiana.
Rain water made its way into crevices in the limestone and mixed with carbon dioxide in the air, forming carbonic acid. This gradually ate away at the layers of rock until holes were worn through. These holes allowed water to flow down, forming an underground stream which was kept supplied by rain water.
As time has passed the streams no longer flow, but the hollowed out spaces remain--as caves. (Thanks to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for the above information.)
According to the Indiana Cave Survey website there are 2,640 caves in all of Indiana. In just two of the southern counties there are over 800 caves(Crawford and Harrison).
Some of the well known commercial caves or caverns are: Squire Boone Caverns, Wyandotte Cave, Marengo Cave, Bluesprings Caverns, and Twin Caves.
Squire Boone Caverns were discovered in 1790 by Squire Boone and his brother,Daniel. Squire is said to have later escaped from unfriendly Indians by hiding in the caverns. He settled in the valley with his family and was later buried in the cave.
These caverns contain rivers and waterfalls which is a rare thing and not often seen. They have daily tours year round. For complete information write: Squire Boone Caverns PO Box 411 Corydon, IN 47112.
Another famous cave of the area is Marengo Cave which is a US National Landmark. It was discovered in 1883 in the limestone hills of southern Indiana. It became a national landmark because of its beauty and large, long passageways.
There are cavern tours and cave exploring trips available. For information write to:
Marengo Cave US National Landmark PO Box 217
Marengo, IN 47140. They also have their own website.
Wyandotte Cave is in eastern Crawford county. It is located near the Blue River and is six miles north of the Ohio River. Most of the 5.2 miles of known passages are walking size areas some of which exceed 80' wide and 70' high.
Wyandotte Cave offers six different tours. There are three, five, or seven hour tours that involve several long crawls and some climbing. For complete information write to: Wyandotte Cave State Recreation Area 7315 S. Wyandotte Cave Road Leavenworth, IN 47137.
Close to Wyandotte Cave yet separate from it is the Little Wyandotte Cave. There is no actual connection between the two caves. The Little Wyandotte is of much more recent origin geologically than the Big Wyandotte. It is also the easier cave to tour with shorter and less strenuous walking.
The Bluespring Caverns are southwest of Bedford and are some of the longest caves in the United States.
Spring Mill State Park, three miles east of Mitchell, Indiana,is the home of Twin Caves where a twenty minute guided boat tour is available. Also available at the park is Donaldson Cave where you may explore without a guide--but only on the dry side.
This article would not be complete without mentioning caves for the spelunkers out there.(Cave explorers for those of us who aren't in the know about caves.) There are a number of horizontal caves in southern Indiana which are regularly used by cave exploring clubs. Some of these include: Buckner's Cave, Leonard Springs Cave, Queen Blair Cave, Small Dull Cave, Trapdoor Cave, Wayne's Lost Cave, Beetree Cave, Cheese Cave, Coon's Cave and Robinson's Ladder Cave(although there are others). These caves range from beginner to intermediate and experienced.
Cave safety is a subject that needs mentioned. Here are some cave safety rules that I came across on the Lava Tube Caves Website:
Always go caving with at LEAST one other perso(three or four are recommended) NEVER ALONE and never go caving without:
a) a strong helmet with a fixed light mounted on it
b) at least two extra lights such as waterproof flashlights
c) sturdy hiking boots with good support and traction--preferably worn over wool socks
d) knee pads
e) more than enough food and water and a sturd(waterproof) pack to carry them in
f) a first aid kit
This list is not a conclusive one. The state of Indiana actually has a statutory cave protection law, the "Indiana State Cave Law".
The Indiana University Spelunking club is an excellent place to find caving rules. Also the UMSI Education Department gives complete basics of caving safety including: "Equipment", "Things To Know and Do Before You go", and "Cave Don'ts".
Another excellent organization to check out is the NSS(National Speleological Society). They have grottos(chapters) in every state. To really go caving you should join one of these.
Exploring caves, whether commercial or otherwise, can be an exciting adventure. Please remember, however, that it can also be extremely dangerous. It would greatly benefit you to go to a search engine and thoroughly examine "cave safety" before you embark on your own cave exploration.
I would like to acknowledge that information for this article came from a variety of places including various cave and southern Indiana websites. Part of the information came from the Indiana Historical Society and a book by Patrick and Cheryl Ann Munson from the Prehistoric Research Series.
Happy and safe caving to you all!
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