Jenolan Caves, Limestone cave system in Blue Mountains, Australia
Jenolan Caves is a limestone cave system in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales that extends across roughly 40 kilometers of passages. The individual chambers lie on multiple levels stacked above each other, and underground rivers flow through many sections, their water having no contact with the surface.
European settler James Whalan came across the caves in 1838 while pursuing a thief, and the government placed the area under protection in 1866. This made the caves one of the first officially protected natural sites on the Australian continent.
The name Jenolan comes from the Tharawal language and points to the deep connection of the Gundungurra and Wiradjuri peoples to this site. In the oral traditions of these groups, the caves appear as part of the creation story that remains alive today.
Due to road repairs and facility upgrades, the entire Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve remains closed to visitors until 2026. Information about reopening and conditions afterward will be announced by the responsible authorities in good time.
Scientific dating shows that these caves are the oldest known open cave system in the world, with rock formations around 340 million years old. The formation thus dates to a time long before the first dinosaurs appeared on Earth.
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