Crystal Cave, Marble karst cave in Sequoia National Park, United States.
Crystal Cave is a show cave within Sequoia National Park featuring white and gray marble formations throughout its passages. The underground system extends for roughly half a mile and displays calcite crystals and various mineral deposits along its walls.
The site was discovered in 1918 by Alex Medley and Cassius Webster, making it the first documented limestone cavern within Sequoia National Park. Its discovery sparked early interest in exploring the geological features beneath the park's surface.
The cave serves as an educational center where visitors learn about geological processes, mineral formation, and the interaction between surface and underground environments.
Visitors must book tours through Recreation.gov at least 36 hours in advance and arrive about 30 minutes before their scheduled time. Comfortable shoes with good grip are essential since the passages have uneven surfaces and some areas can be slippery.
The cave maintains a constant temperature of about 9 degrees Celsius year-round, creating specific conditions that allow certain mineral formations to develop without interruption. This stable environment supports the growth of delicate crystals that would not survive in changing temperatures.
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