about

Carlsbad Caverns National Monument/Park.

     Carlsbad Caverns are located in the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico, which formed about 20 million years ago when tectonic forces lifted a gigantic Permian Age reef from an inland sea.  Sulfuric acid ate away at the limestone, creating underground passageways and caves.  Rainwater later trickled into the caverns leaving dissolved mineral deposits on the ceilings, walls, and floors.  These deposits eventually built up creating stalactites (ceiling formations) and stalagmites (floor formations).  Carlsbad is part of a cave system extending across most of the southern part of New Mexico.  This system also includes the 134.9 mile long Lechuguilla Cave.  Carlsbad is 30 miles long.  There are 76 other separate caves which are included in the park.  Some are not completely explored.

     A local cowboy, Jim White, has been credited with first exploring the caverns as a teenager in 1898.  In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge declared Carlsbad Caverns a National Monument and it was established as a National Park in 1930. 

     The caverns are a constant 56 degrees year round.  There are seven miles of paved trail within the cave.  Visits to the cave are self guided, but I believe there are also guided tours which visitors can participate in.  The Big Room is approximately 3,800 feet long by over 600 feet wide and 255 feet high and is the largest cavern within Carlsbad.  Between mid May and mid October, thousands of freetail bats fly out of the caverns at dusk to hunt for insects.  The caverns are open every day except:  Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years day.

     My intent here, with the Carlsbad photos (purchased-mostly), is not to go into verbal depth on anything.  But, to let the photos and their sub-titles speak for themselves.  We add new items and information, to the site, monthly.  Be sure to look for page links.  Over half the site (and ALL of the really cool non-product information-like this page) is buried in these page links.  So, just like at the museum, look for all the little things (links) that might otherwise be overlooked.  Enjoy!!!

 

Walnut Canyon road to Carlsbad Caverns.

Frozen Waterfall.

Queen's Drapries.

Entrance to Big Room.

Fairyland  & Temple Of The Sun.

Crystal Spring Dome.

Bat Flight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Natural entrance to Carlsbad Caverns.

Eternal Kiss.

Tumbled Titans - King's Palace.

Sword of Damocles.

Temple Of The Sun.

Rock Of Ages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devil's Spring.

Keyhole and Eternal Kiss.

Grape Arbor.

Hall of Giants.

Snow Covered Christmas Tree.

Giant and Twin Domes.

 

 

 

 

 

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Veiled Statue.

Queen's Orchestra.

Lily Pads.

Lion's Tail.

Totem Pole.

Chinaman's Hat/Venus's Breast.