Colossal Cave - Vail, AZ
Feb 9, 2018 09:07:40 #
Colossal Cave is a large cave system in southeastern Arizona about 22 miles southeast of Tucson. The cave contains about 3.5 miles of mapped passageways. Temperatures inside average 70F year-round.
The cave formations include stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, boxwork, and helictites. During guided tours you descend and climb a 6-story stairway to access the cave interior.
Colossal Cave Mountain Park
Vail, Arizona
December 2017
Colossal Cave by Paul Sager, on Flickr
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4707/25144330367_09a1942e6a_h.jpg
Colossal Cave was used from 900 to 1450 AD by the Hohokam, Sobaipuri, and Apache Indians. The cave was rediscovered in 1879 by Solomon Lick, the owner of the nearby Mountain Springs Hotel. He was searching for stray cattle when he discovered the entrance to the cave.
Colossal Cave
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4748/40014746841_86383523bb_h.jpg
Colossal Cave is an ancient karst cave, classified as "dry" by guides (though this is not a speleologic term). The meaning is the formations are completely dry, or "dead", and are no longer growing.
Colossal Cave
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4696/26142224318_dfd8161014_h.jpg
Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves.
Colossal Cave
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4616/39983437402_0f35da4db1_h.jpg
The study of karst is considered of prime importance in petroleum geology as roughly 50% of the world's hydrocarbon reserves are hosted in porous karst systems.
Colossal Cave
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4622/26142218598_ed56512919_h.jpg
These images are from an EOS 5DIII and the EF 16-35 f/4L IS. They're sized to fill your wide-screen display. Try using <F11> to maximize your browser window for the full effect. If the images overshoot your display, such as a laptop, just click on the image or the URL link and they'll resize to your screen from the host Flickr site. You can click a bit further into the image details on the Flickr page, if desired. EXIF data is available from the host Flickr pages as well. On the Flickr site, use your <L>key for Large and the <F11> for the full-screen.
The cave formations include stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, boxwork, and helictites. During guided tours you descend and climb a 6-story stairway to access the cave interior.
Colossal Cave Mountain Park
Vail, Arizona
December 2017
Colossal Cave by Paul Sager, on Flickr
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4707/25144330367_09a1942e6a_h.jpg
Colossal Cave was used from 900 to 1450 AD by the Hohokam, Sobaipuri, and Apache Indians. The cave was rediscovered in 1879 by Solomon Lick, the owner of the nearby Mountain Springs Hotel. He was searching for stray cattle when he discovered the entrance to the cave.
Colossal Cave
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4748/40014746841_86383523bb_h.jpg
Colossal Cave is an ancient karst cave, classified as "dry" by guides (though this is not a speleologic term). The meaning is the formations are completely dry, or "dead", and are no longer growing.
Colossal Cave
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4696/26142224318_dfd8161014_h.jpg
Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves.
Colossal Cave
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4616/39983437402_0f35da4db1_h.jpg
The study of karst is considered of prime importance in petroleum geology as roughly 50% of the world's hydrocarbon reserves are hosted in porous karst systems.
Colossal Cave
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4622/26142218598_ed56512919_h.jpg
These images are from an EOS 5DIII and the EF 16-35 f/4L IS. They're sized to fill your wide-screen display. Try using <F11> to maximize your browser window for the full effect. If the images overshoot your display, such as a laptop, just click on the image or the URL link and they'll resize to your screen from the host Flickr site. You can click a bit further into the image details on the Flickr page, if desired. EXIF data is available from the host Flickr pages as well. On the Flickr site, use your <L>key for Large and the <F11> for the full-screen.
Feb 9, 2018 09:12:19 #
Feb 9, 2018 09:19:46 #
Feb 9, 2018 09:22:00 #
Feb 9, 2018 09:23:35 #
We live 5 miles from there. A good tour when combined with Saguaro National Monument East at sunset or sunrise.
Rick
Rick
Feb 9, 2018 09:25:11 #
Feb 9, 2018 09:27:03 #
RickL wrote:
We live 5 miles from there. A good tour when combined with Saguaro National Monument East at sunset or sunrise.
Rick
Rick
Thanks Rick. I was there on a windy 40ish day. It was nice to be warm inside a cave for a change.
Feb 9, 2018 09:27:50 #
ebbote wrote:
Very good shots Paul.
Thank you Earnest! Glad you enjoyed.
Feb 9, 2018 09:31:32 #
DaveC1 wrote:
Great shots dpager! They look very much like ice formations.
Thank you DaveC1! I agree on the very similar results even though the rock formations grow maybe just centimeter every 10-years rather than icicles that grow overnight.
Feb 9, 2018 09:34:00 #
Ben's nana wrote:
These are great and thanks for the information as well.
Fran
Fran
Thank you Fran! I found some additional information about the pH level of the water ... I found that a bit too much detail. Glad you enjoyed.
Feb 9, 2018 09:34:30 #
Feb 9, 2018 15:52:59 #
Feb 10, 2018 06:19:20 #
Feb 10, 2018 09:45:52 #
Feb 10, 2018 09:57:32 #
One look doesn't do it with these images. What an incredible study set!
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