|
Lechuguilla Cave is, as of June 2013, with the seventh-longest explored cave in the world and the deepest in the continental United States (), but it is most famous for its unusual geology, rare formations, and pristine condition. The cave is named for ''Agave lechuguilla'', a species of plant found near its entrance. Lechuguilla is in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico. Access to the cave is limited to approved scientific researchers, survey and exploration teams, and National Park Service management-related trips. ==Exploration history== Lechuguilla Cave was known until 1986 as a small, insignificant historic site in the park's back country. Small amounts of bat guano were mined from the entrance passages for a year under a mining claim filed in 1914. The historic cave contained a entrance pit known as Misery Hole, which led to of dry dead-end passages.〔(【引用サイトリンク】Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Lechuguilla Cave )〕 The cave was visited infrequently after mining activities ceased. However, in the 1950s, cavers heard wind roaring up from the rubble-choked cave floor. Although there was no obvious route, people concluded that cave passages lay below the rubble. Led by Dave Allured, a group of cavers from the Colorado Grotto gained permission from the National Park Service and began digging in 1984. The breakthrough, into large walking passages, occurred on May 26, 1986.〔 Since 1986, explorers have mapped over of passages〔 and have pushed the depth of the cave to ,〔 ranking Lechuguilla as the 7th-longest cave in the world (4th-longest in the United States)〔 and the deepest limestone cave in the continental United States, until the discovery of the Tears of the Turtle cave.〔http://www.caverbob.com/usadeep.htm〕 Cavers, drawn by the cave's pristine condition and rare beauty, come from around the world to explore and map its passages and geology.〔 In May 2012 a team led by Derek Bristol of Colorado climbed over into a dome and discovered several new, unexplored passages, pits and large rooms. This new section was named "Oz" and many of its features were named after items from The Wizard of Oz. The discovery included a large room measuring long, up to wide and up to high. It was named "Munchkinland". A pit, named "Kansas Twister", at over from floor to ceiling, is the deepest pit yet discovered in the park. The team spent eight days mapping Oz, adding the largest distance to the survey since 1989, and bringing the total length to .〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.currentargus.com/ci_20792055/deepest-pit-found-lechuguilla-cave )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Lechuguilla Cave」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|