The Caverns of Calaveras County

In Calaveras County, you can find a large collection of caverns. Some of these caverns are open to public. You can even rappel down into one of the caverns!

Mercer Caverns are located in Murphys, California. The caverns were “discovered” more than a hundred years ago by Walter J. Mercer. As Mercer explored the caverns, he came upon human bones. Later, it was discovered that the remains were left by prehistoric Indians. The entrance to their burial caverns had filled in with dirt and rocks over the years. These remains of six people laid undisturbed for a long time. Today, people can walk down a long staircase into the caverns. One cavern has a formation named “The Organ Loft.” This formation's stalactites and stalagmites look like the pipes of an organ.

About 15 miles away from Murphys is a town called Mountain Ranch. This town is home of California Cavern, a State Historic Landmark. Visitors to this cavern tour chambers with some interesting names, such as Mammoth Tomb Chamber and the Jungle Room. The chambers of these caverns can be narrow, so people actually have to crawl in some places! As with Mercer Caverns, Indians were the first visitors to this cave. These caves were “discovered” around the mid-1800s. Rare beaded helicites can be found in one of the cave's chambers.

About 25 miles from Mountain Ranch and just a few miles away from Murphys is Moaning Cavern. A trip to this cavern offers visitors the chance to rappel 165 feet into the cavern's main chamber. As with California Cavern and Mercer Caverns, Indians discovered Moaning Cavern a long time ago. The remains of prehistoric Indians have been found in the caverns.

Each of these caverns is a special place under the surface of Earth. Like coral, the formations in the caverns grow very, very slowly. Damage to stalactites and stalagmites in the caverns could take hundreds of years to repair. Taking care of these caverns means that people for years to come can enjoy the beauty of these underground wonderlands.

Vocabulary

rappel:

To descend from a steep height by sliding down a belayed rope that is passed under one thigh and over the opposite shoulder or through a device that provides friction.

stalactite:

A deposit like a cylinder or cone that projects down from the roof of a cave and is formed by dripping mineral water.

stalagmite:

A deposit like a cylinder or cone that projects up from the floor of a cave and is formed by dripping mineral water.

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Sources:

Calaveras County

http://www.visitcalaveras.org/

Mercer Caverns

http://www.mercercaverns.com/

Caverns of California

http://www.caverntours.com