New St. Michael's Cave
New St. Michael's Cave | |
---|---|
Lower St. Michael's Cave | |
Map showing location in Gibraltar | |
Coordinates | 36°07′33.2″N 5°20′45.7″W / 36.125889°N 5.346028°W |
Discovery | 1942 |
Geology | Limestone |
Entrances | 1 |
Access | Organised tours |
Show cave opened | Yes |
Show cave length | 200 metres (660 ft) |
Lighting | Fully lit |
Features | Almost all known speleothem and lake. |
New St. Michael's Cave, also known as Lower St. Michael's Cave, is a cave system in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Unlike its namesake, St. Michael's Cave (proper), which has been known for over 2,000 years, this cave was discovered as recently as World War II.
The cave was accidentally discovered
The cave's chambers include examples of almost all known cave formations, including a lake nearly 40 yards (37 m) long containing an estimated 45,000 imperial gallons (200,000 L) of crystal-clear water.[1] After the war, the cave and every visitor was supervised by the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence, specifically the Royal Engineers. It was not until the 1970s that civilian guides were authorised. Within ten years, the guides were all civilians as the Gibraltar Tourist Board took over the cave's management from the military.[2]
Three-hour guided tours of the cave can be arranged, ending with viewing the underground lake.[3]
References
- ^ a b "Lower St Michael's Cave". Visit Gibraltar. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ^ Perez, Charles E. (2005). Upper Rock Nature Reserve page 69 (PDF). Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society.
- ISBN 978-1-74179-012-2. Retrieved 17 January 2013.