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Jewel Cave | |
Above: Park headquarters Left: The book store, and ticket counter. |
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Tours meet right in the main building, and line up here. Entrance is via elevator. | |
A small museum, and theater give visitors an idea of what to expect down in the caves. | |
Portions of the cave are not yet developed, and are largely still being explored. These so called wild sections are open to the public on a limited basis, through "wild cave" tours. In order to qualify, you must be able to fit through this small block. | |
The elevators to the caves below. | |
At the bottom of the elevator ride, our ranger gives us some warnings, and advice, before taking us out into the caves. | |
Left: Out in the cave, it is immediately obvious that this is a much larger, and more open set of caves than those of nearby Wind Cave. Below: Stairs lead to some of the lower levels of the cave system. |
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This is the same area s that above; but under the green glow of the florescent lights of the cave. | |
Stairways are all around. We stand on a metal platform, above the cave floor. | |
Left: A look back at the entrance to the elevator lobby. Below: The stairs down. |
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Broccoli anyone? | |
A look back up the stairs. | |
We gather under a big rock, after our trip down the stairs. | |
On one of the deeper levels of the cave, we pass through the jeweled tunnels of Jewel Cave. | |
Crystals form over nearly all of the cave surfaces, which is how the cave got its name. | |
Sadly, still photos can not show the way that the surfaces of the cave glitter and change, as the light passes. | |
Parts of the inside of this cave, almost appear to be living things. | |
Traveling through the tunnels and canyons of this cave are like going through a coral reef. If there were water in these caves, it would not seem out of place to see reef fish here. | |
The walls sparkle, and show different colors and odd, curved shapes. |
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