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Making America's Best Idea Even Better
Mammoth Cave National ParkSaltpetre mining ruins in Mammoth Cave. The apparatus was damaged in the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812.
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Mammoth Cave National Park
Great Onyx Lantern Tour
Nativity formation in Great Onyx Cave

Raymond Klass

"Nativity" formation in Great Onyx Cave

Duration:  2¼ hours
Walking Distance: 1 mile, round trip
Sells Out at: 38 visitors
Restroom Available? No 
Description:   Learn the legends and rumors of early community life as you travel by bus to Great Onyx Cave, a privately owned and operated cave until the 1960’s. Discover how Great Onyx survived the Cave Wars and emerged as one of the most pristine show caves in the region. Exploring this geologic beauty by lantern light offers a different perspective to the multitudes of dripstone, gypsum, and helictite formations. Encounter evidence of cave life from past and present.
Landmarks Seen: Flint Ridge Road (surface drive); Great Onyx Cave entrance; several rooms of formations, including "The Nativity," large dry passage; gypsum
Elevation Change:  approximately 30'
Number of Stairs:  40
Steep Hill Climbs? No
Restrictions: No flash photography; general restrictions apply

Special Notice: This cave is not known to be connected to the greater Mammoth Cave System.
Soda straw stalactite  

Did You Know?
Stalactites grow downward – they hang "tight" to the ceiling – while stalagmites grow upward – they "might" reach the ceiling someday. Mammoth Cave's formations include many types of calcite formations.

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Last Updated: July 22, 2008 at 15:28 EST