| Location: | Carlsbad Caverns NP, NM. 10km off Highway 62/180. |
| Open: | Closed! |
| Fee: | Closed! |
| Classification: |
 Karst cave,
|
| Light: | none |
| Dimension: | D=489m, L=187,295m. |
| Guided tours: | none |
| Bibliography: |
Stephen Reames,
Lawrence Fish, Paul Burger, Patricia Kambesis (1999): Deep Secrets, The Discovery and Exploration of Lechuguilla Cave, Cave Books, ISBN: 0939748282 (Paperback), 0939748185 (Hardcover)  Homepage |
Hardcover at Amazon.com |
Paperback at Amazon.com
National Geographic's Mysteries Underground, National Geographic Video (VHS), 1997. buy at Amazon.com |
| Address: |
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, 3225 National Parks Hwy., Carlsbad, NM 88220, Tel: +1-505-785-2232, Fax: +1-505-785-2302.
E-mail: Tour reservations, Tel: 1-800-967-2283, international Tel: +1-301-722-1257. |
| Last update: | $Date: 2008/07/01 20:31:10 $ |
Lechuguilla Cave is the deepest and the fourth longest limestone cave in the United States. It is named after the agave Lechuguilla, a member of the family Agavaceae, that grows all around the cave entrance.
Lechuguilla Cave is called the most beautiful cave of the World, as it is full of speleothems and troglobionts found nowhere else in the world. This is the reason, why it is very difficult to visit Lechuguilla. Because it is the most beautiful cave of the world, the National Park authorities try to keep it in an undisturbed state. Speleologist have to proof that they are able and willing to take care of the cave. For a few years less than ten expeditions per year were allowed. After the theft of a very famous cave pearl, the cave was closed completely for several years!
The recent exploration and scientific discoveries in Lechuguilla Cave, and other caves in the park, hold immense potential for scientific research. But still there is a drawback: the caves are extremely fractile, as especially the selenite formations may be destroyed even by slightest changes in humidity. In some cases it was reported that a group of caver breathing in a huge hall for some time caused the collapse of fragile gypsum chandeliers.
There are many sources for Lechuguilla on the net. Also there is no chance for me to visit this cave (grief). So help yourself on the net:
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