St. Michael's Cave, Natural limestone cave system in Upper Rock Nature Reserve, Gibraltar
St. Michael's Cave is a limestone cave in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve in Gibraltar, with several chambers full of formations created by water erosion and mineral deposits over long periods. The largest hall is known as Cathedral Cave and offers an impressive setting through its high vaults and natural formations.
Archaeologists discovered prehistoric cave art and a Neolithic bowl in the 1970s, showing that people lived here thousands of years ago. During World War II the British military turned parts of the cave into an emergency hospital with operating theaters.
The name recalls the archangel Michael, and today the underground halls host theater performances and classical concerts. The walls return sound so clearly that orchestras play without electronic amplification.
Access to the cave follows a lit path with stairs that leads through the different chambers and takes about 30 minutes of walking time. Humidity is high and the temperature remains constantly cool throughout the year, so a light jacket is recommended.
Deeper below the visitor cave lie additional chambers known as Lower St. Michael's Cave, accessible only during special tours. In one of these lower areas an underground lake leads to a cave system that has not yet been fully explored.
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