Cheese Cave, Lava tube in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, United States.
Cheese Cave is a lava tube in Gifford Pinchot National Forest stretching roughly 600 meters underground with a floor width of about 7 to 8 meters and ceiling heights ranging from 13 to 18 meters. The tunnel displays typical features of volcanic cave systems with natural chambers and passages.
The cave was discovered in 1894 and initially used for potato storage by local settlers. Later it was developed as a commercial cheese aging facility, becoming an important production site for the area.
The place demonstrates how early settlers used natural underground spaces for food storage and processing. This practical use became woven into the daily life and economic activities of the communities living nearby.
Visitors can enter through two different openings: a natural entrance with a steel staircase and a man-made southern entrance with a permanent ladder. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a jacket since underground conditions are cool and the surfaces can be damp.
The underground chambers maintain steady temperatures year-round that are cool enough to age cheese without external refrigeration. This natural cooling system was a rare advantage that made the location economically valuable for commercial production.
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