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Grand Canyon Caverns The Grand Canyon Caverns, 230 feet below ground level, are the largest dry caverns in the United States. Dry caverns are rare, only 3% of all caverns in the world are dry. Being dry, stalagmites and stalactites are virtually non-existant. Air comes into the caverns from the Grand Canyon through 60 miles of limestone cracks, crevices and caves. The caverns are huge, and those with claustrophobic tendencies won't notice them as 3 football fields could fit comfortably inside. 345 million years ago (Mississippian Period), the southwestern U.S. was covered by an ocean. As small sea animals died over the millions of years, thier shells and skeletons created a mud rich in lime. This mud eventually hardened and changed into the limestone bedrock, which is what the caverns are within. Millions of years later the bedrock was pushed up, to over 5,000 feet above sea level. These upheaval events split the Earth's crust allowing water to flow into what is now the caverns. About 35 million years ago abundant rainfall carrying a mild acid solution poured into the caverns. This solution utimately seeped it's way through the cracks and crevices draining into the Colorado River. Millions of more years found evaporating water leaving calcium deposits to decorate the walls and floors of these beautiful formations. Next page |
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