Earth:Niagara Cave

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Niagara Cave
Passageway in Niagara Cave.jpg
Passageway in Niagara Cave
Map showing the location of Niagara Cave
Map showing the location of Niagara Cave
LocationFillmore County, Minnesota, United States
Coordinates [ ⚑ ] 43°30′50″N 92°03′18″W / 43.5140°N 92.0551°W / 43.5140; -92.0551[1]
Depth200 ft
Discovery1924[2]
GeologyGalena formation, Ordovician Limestone
AccessTours are available in season
LightingSolar Energy[3]
Visitors25,000 - 30,000 per year[4]
FeaturesUnderground river, Subterranean waterfall, Wedding chapel, Fossils
Websiteniagaracave.com

Niagara Cave is a limestone cave located in Harmony, Minnesota. The cave is approximately 200 feet (61 m) deep; features include an underground stream, 60-foot waterfall, fossils, stalactites and stalagmites.[5] The cave is privately owned, with tours available seasonally.[6]

The cave was first discovered in 1924,[2] and in 1932, three spelunkers Al Cremer, Leo Tekippe, and Joe Flynn explored the cave and named the site Niagara Cave.[7] Niagara Cave opened as a show cave in June 1934,[4] and was described by geologist J Harlen Bretz in 1938.[8]

The Minnesota Geological Survey noted in their 1995 survey, "Niagara Cave contains an excellent example of an underground river, complete with waterfall."[9]

Niagara Cave waterfall
Niagara cave wall

References

  1. "The Underground Waterfall of Niagara Cave" (in en). https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/niagara-cave-1. Retrieved 15 May 2019. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Binkley, Mike (6 July 2014). "Finding Minnesota: The Cave That Pigs Discovered" (in en). CBS WCCO. https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2014/07/06/finding-minnesota-the-cave-that-pigs-discovered/. Retrieved 15 May 2019. 
  3. Jeffers, Barb. "Niagara Cave harnesses solar energy". http://fillmorecountyjournal.com/niagara-cave-harnesses-solar-energy/. Retrieved 15 May 2019. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 Weiss, John (2014-06-07). "Niagara Cave celebrates 90 years, with lantern light" (in en). The Post Bulletin. https://www.postbulletin.com/news/local/niagara-cave-celebrates-years-with-lantern-light/article_fb193f37-706c-57a9-99a0-0d857e2ea4c1.html. Retrieved 15 May 2019. 
  5. Smelter, Kyle (18 July 2016). "Niagara Cave: What Lies Below". Minnesota Monthly. https://www.minnesotamonthly.com/archive/niagara-cave-what-lies-below/. Retrieved 15 May 2019. 
  6. "3½ Hours to Natural Wonder". Maple Grove Magazine (Minneapolis, MN: Tiger Oak Media). 2014-07-01. https://maplegrovemag.com/3%C2%BD-hours-natural-wonder. Retrieved 15 May 2019. 
  7. Hahn, Amy Jo. "Niagara Cave". Harmony Area Historical Society. http://www.mnopedia.org/place/niagara-cave. Retrieved 15 May 2019. 
  8. Bretz, J. Harlen (August 1938). "Caves in the Galena Formation". The Journal of Geology 46 (6): 828–841. doi:10.1086/624694. Bibcode1938JG.....46..828B. 
  9. Lively, R. S. (1995). "Minnesota at a Glance Caves in Minnesota" (in en). Minnesota Geological Survey. https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/59431. Retrieved 15 May 2019.