Cavalum Caves, Lava tube system in Machico, Portugal
Cavalum Caves are a lava tube system in Machico consisting of four volcanic passages running through basalt rock. These passages vary in length and sit at approximately 157 meters elevation.
The system formed during the Neogene period through volcanic activity, with the last eruption occurring around 6000 years ago near a high plateau. This geological history makes the caves a window into the region's volcanic past.
Local people sought shelter in these passages during a major uprising in 1931. The caves tell the story of how residents used the landscape to protect themselves during conflict.
The location stays cool year-round, with temperatures between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius, so proper clothing is important. Visitors should bring their own lighting since the tunnels are dark.
The system houses thirteen species found nowhere else in the world, including two spider species from the genus Centromerus. These creatures have adapted to cave life over thousands of years in complete darkness.
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