Jewel Cave National Monument, National monument in Custer County, South Dakota, United States.
Jewel Cave National Monument is a cave system containing around 220 miles of mapped passages filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and calcite deposits. The passages form an extensive network of chambers hidden beneath limestone rock.
Two brothers named Frank and Albert Michaud discovered the cave in 1900 while noticing cold air seeping from a small opening. The site became a national monument in 1908 and began attracting visitors shortly after.
The name comes from the glittering calcite crystals that sparkle throughout the passages, resembling precious gems. These shimmering formations are what visitors notice first when moving through the underground chambers.
The best way to explore the cave is to book one of the offered tours, which have different difficulty levels. Wear comfortable shoes since the paths are uneven and temperatures stay cool underground.
The cave breathes like a living organism, with air moving in and out as atmospheric pressure changes, suggesting vast undiscovered chambers. Scientists use these pressure differences to learn more about the hidden scale of the system.
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