Imagine our surprise when showing up for our "Left Hand Passage Tour" at Carlsbad Caverns to be informed that there were no lights in this section of the cave and that we would be issued candle lanterns. No kidding. How did we miss that in the tour description?I'll spare you all the superlative cliches but this cave is a must.
If you do go, the best formations, or speliothons, are on the self guided tour through the BIG ROOM. This 1.3 mile walk through the 600,000 square foot room will load your brain with more cave fantasy than you can absorb.
Interesting fact: The limestone in which these caves are formed lie atop a large petroleum deposit. Hydrogen Sulfide gas from that deposit seeped into the water table millions of years ago forming sulfuric acid. It was this powerful acid that created Carlsbad Caverns unlike eastern caves which are formed by much weaker carbonic acid.
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| Photo Courtesy National Park Service |
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