Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, Geological site across Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.
Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark is a cave system spanning Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, featuring limestone formations with underground streams, stalactites, stalagmites, and natural chambers. The landscape displays karst topography with multiple entrances and interconnected passage networks.
The caves formed over 340 million years ago through the dissolution of limestone by water. In 1895, explorers Édouard-Alfred Martel and Lyster Jameson conducted the first scientific investigation and mapped the underground network.
Local communities have valued these caves for thousands of years, as shown by ancient tools and bones found throughout the site. Visitors can observe how the natural chambers and surrounding landscape shaped the lives of earlier inhabitants.
Visitors are advised to wear sturdy footwear and warm clothing, as underground temperatures stay cool throughout the year. The best time to visit is between spring and autumn, when tours run regularly.
The site contains some of the largest cave passages in the British Isles, which visitors explore on foot and by boat. This combination of travel methods makes the experience distinctly varied compared to other cave systems across Europe.
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