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Mammoth Cave National Park
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Nature and Science

A cave stream

Mammoth Cave Aquifer
Flow through the Mammoth Cave Karst aquifer can be very rapid, on the order of 1000's to 10,000's of feet per day. Contaminants entering the karst aquifer can thus be rapidly transported, unfiltered through the conduit system. The karst aquifer is very dynamic, that is, it responds nearly instantaneously to rainfall. Aquifer stage can rise tens of feet in a matter of hours, with numerous records showing stage rises of over 100 feet over the course of one day. Also, chemical and bacteriological properties of the groundwater can change dramatically following rainfall events.

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Musicians often played in Mammoth Cave.

Did You Know?
For many years, the chambers of Mammoth Cave rang with the sound of music. Visiting bands such as Landram's Sax-Horn Band and Luther Ewing's String Band, along with the Mammoth Cave Hotel's own local musicians, entertained visitors underground into the early 20th century.
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Last Updated: July 12, 2011 at 14:30 MST