Lechuguilla Cave, Limestone cave in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, US
Lechuguilla Cave is a limestone formation in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, with mapped passages stretching 233 kilometers through the rock. The system reaches 489 meters below the Guadalupe Mountains surface, offering a labyrinth of chambers and passages on multiple levels.
Cavers from Colorado discovered extensive passages beyond an entrance shaft in 1986, transforming what was once thought unimportant. This breakthrough made the site one of the longest and deepest cave systems in North America and a key location for geological research.
The site takes its name from a type of spiky leafed cactus common in the region, which resembles the shape of certain formations. Research teams spend weeks underground studying how minerals form and how life adapts to complete darkness.
Access is strictly limited to approved scientific researchers, survey crews, and National Park Service staff. Visitors should be aware that no public tours are offered, as protecting the delicate environment takes priority.
Rare bacteria that consume rock minerals live deep in the chambers, feeding on sulfur compounds. Some gypsum crystals hang up to 6 meters from the ceilings and are among the finest formations of their kind anywhere in the world.
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