Pol an Ionain, Show cave in County Clare, Ireland
Poll an Ionain is a limestone cave system beneath County Clare that extends approximately 600 meters underground. The system features intricately shaped stalactites and stalagmites formed through water erosion over millions of years.
The cave was discovered in 1952 when British cavers found a passage leading to the underground network beneath the surface. This discovery eventually opened the site to visitors and revealed the geological processes that shaped the karst landscape.
The Irish name Poll an Ionain refers to the ivy-covered cliffs above the cave, which shape how this landscape appears to visitors today. The surrounding features remain central to understanding what the name describes in the Burren environment.
The cave maintains a constant temperature around 11°C year-round, so warm and weather-appropriate clothing is necessary for comfort. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes with good grip to move safely on wet and uneven surfaces during the tour.
A notably large free-hanging stalactite descends from the ceiling and stands out because of its exceptional length. This rock formation ranks among the longest of its kind in the region and demonstrates the impressive power of natural formation processes.
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