Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Caves

 Maribel Caves

 

These caves are part of Maribel Caves County Part a small 75 acre park approximately 30 miles south of The Gardens at Waters East. There are many fantastic caves that are 11,000 to 20,000 years old carved out of the lime stone that make up part of the Niagara Escarpment running from upper New York state and Niagara Falls down along the West side of upper Lake Michigan, under the Gardens at Waters East, then across Wisconsin to Iowa.


Tour leader



bat on the ceiling
 
rock face of Niagara Escarpment

 

One of many caves

 

Through many many years of deposition and change, glaciers wore down the land surface exposing an underlying solid mass of rock called Niagara Dolomite. Over the years of extreme climatic conditions, the rock decomposed. Springs, carbonic acid, the changing seasons, high volumes of glacial ice melt, and temperature variations broke down the rock.

 

stalactites
 

 

Small caves and openings created by these forces appear in the rock layers of the cliff line.

Springs which seep from the limestone rock flow over the moss covered rocks and trickle to the river below.



 
water running out from a cave

If you like nature, geology, caves and beauty this is a great place to visit.

 

 

one of the paths below the caves

 

 

another path - many trails to hike

 

Frog in the river below the caves.

about to be LUNCH !!!



 Ruins of the original Hotel - Spa

Build here for people who came for the curative waters of the caves.







5 comments:

  1. Great photos and info about the caves and the water flowage, and the critters, too. Thanks for sharing.

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    Replies
    1. You are welcome. Some wonderful natural place so near to here. The gardens sits right on top of that whole rock formation.

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  2. Replies
    1. Yeah I do enjoy seeing nature like that. Think of the thousands of years they have been there, so close to my gardens.

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  3. A wonderful tour of one of our fascinating places - Thanks!

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