The Lehman Cave system began forming around 550 million years ago while the area was still submerged in a relatively warm, shallow ocean. As sediment layers built up on the bottom of this sea, limestone was formed from the silt, sand and skeletal remains of sea life. The limestone was greatly compressed as a result of the pressure of the many layers of sediment.
As the eons passed, groundwater in the area absorbed carbon dioxide from the air and decaying vegetation in the soil, creating carbonic acid. This acidic water was able to trickle down through bedrock and dissolve the limestone. Cavities were formed, and as the sea level dropped, hollow “passageways” were left behind.
The cave was “discovered” by Absalom Lehman in 1885 (Native Americans had used the caves for burials prior to the arrival of Europeans). Lehman promoted the cave, and charged tourists $1 to visit. He gave them a candle and bid them good luck. In order to encourage visitors and make it easier to move around in the caves’ cramped quarters he allowed them to take pieces, particularly stalactites, with them: “You break it, you take it.” Thus, many of the formations were broken off and removed.
We paid the $12 tour fee to spend about an hour and half touring the Parachute Room. The tour highlights the Parachute Shield. These large, round formations are rare, but Lehman Caves has more than 500 of them! This isn’t our first cave experience. We toured the Carlsbad Caverns and wrote this blog. Also, Lava Beds National Monument caving was pretty cool and we blogged about that here. I’d highly recommend visiting these caves when you come to the park.
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