Lechuguilla Cave, Limestone cave in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, US
The cave system extends through 145 miles of mapped passages, reaching depths of 1,604 feet beneath the Guadalupe Mountains surface.
Initially considered insignificant, the cave underwent a transformation in 1986 when Colorado cavers discovered extensive passages beyond its entrance pit.
Scientists and researchers from multiple disciplines study the cave's formations to understand geological processes and microbial life patterns.
Entry permissions are exclusively granted to approved scientific researchers, survey teams, and National Park Service management personnel.
The cave contains distinctive gypsum chandeliers measuring 20 feet, hydromagnesite balloons, and rare rock-eating bacteria within its chambers.
Location: Eddy County
GPS coordinates: 32.19064,-104.50331
Latest update: May 28, 2025 18:30
Caves form through gradual geological processes that can span millions of years. Water dissolves limestone and creates underground chambers filled with stalactites and stalagmites, while ice caves in alpine regions maintain their frozen formations even during summer months. Each cave system tells a distinct story about the forces that shaped it, from chemical erosion to tectonic shifts that exposed new rock layers to underground rivers. This collection includes some of the most geologically significant caves on Earth. Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico encompasses more than 30 miles (48 kilometers) of passages filled with mineral formations, while Mammoth Cave in Kentucky extends over 400 miles (650 kilometers) through limestone bedrock. Eisriesenwelt in Austria stretches 26 miles (42 kilometers) and contains ice structures that reform each winter. Reed Flute Cave in Guilin showcases limestone formations that began developing 180 million years ago. Waitomo Caves in New Zealand are home to thousands of glowworms that light the darkness with bioluminescence. Puerto Princesa in the Philippines features an underground river that flows 5 miles (8 kilometers) before reaching the sea. Several caves also preserve human history, including Lascaux in France with its 17,000-year-old paintings. These formations demonstrate how water, ice, and time create underground worlds that reveal both geological and cultural history.
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Eddy County Courthouse
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Natural Entrance
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