Niagara Cave | |
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![]() Passageway in Niagara Cave | |
Location | Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States |
Coordinates | 43°30′50″N 92°03′18″W / 43.5140°N 92.0551°W[1] |
Depth | 200 ft |
Discovery | 1924[2] |
Geology | Galena formation, Ordovician Limestone |
Access | Tours are available in season |
Lighting | Solar Energy[3] |
Visitors | 25,000 - 30,000 per year[4] |
Features | Underground river, Subterranean waterfall, Wedding chapel, Fossils |
Website | niagaracave.com |
Niagara Cave is a limestone cave located in Harmony, Minnesota. The cave is approximately 200 feet (61 m) deep; features include an underground stream, 60-foot waterfall, fossils, stalactites and stalagmites.[5] The cave is privately owned, with tours available seasonally.[6]
The cave was first discovered in 1924,[2] and in 1932, three spelunkers Al Cremer, Leo Tekippe, and Joe Flynn explored the cave and named the site Niagara Cave.[7] Niagara Cave opened as a show cave in June 1934,[4] and was described by geologist J Harlen Bretz in 1938.[8]
The Minnesota Geological Survey noted in their 1995 survey, "Niagara Cave contains an excellent example of an underground river, complete with waterfall."[9]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Niagara_Cave_waterfall.jpg/220px-Niagara_Cave_waterfall.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Niagara_Cave_wall.jpg/220px-Niagara_Cave_wall.jpg)
References
- ^ "The Underground Waterfall of Niagara Cave". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- ^ a b Binkley, Mike (6 July 2014). "Finding Minnesota: The Cave That Pigs Discovered". CBS WCCO. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- ^ Jeffers, Barb. "Niagara Cave harnesses solar energy". Fillmore County Journal. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- ^ a b Weiss, John (2014-06-07). "Niagara Cave celebrates 90 years, with lantern light". The Post Bulletin. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- ^ Smelter, Kyle (18 July 2016). "Niagara Cave: What Lies Below". Minnesota Monthly. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- ^ "3½ Hours to Natural Wonder". Maple Grove Magazine. Minneapolis, MN: Tiger Oak Media. 2014-07-01. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- ^ Hahn, Amy Jo. "Niagara Cave". Minnesota Historical Society MNopedia. Harmony Area Historical Society. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- ^ Bretz, J. Harlen (August 1938). "Caves in the Galena Formation". The Journal of Geology. 46 (6): 828–841. Bibcode:1938JG.....46..828B. doi:10.1086/624694. S2CID 129399722.
- ^ Lively, R. S. (1995). "Minnesota at a Glance Caves in Minnesota". Minnesota Geological Survey. hdl:11299/59431. Retrieved 15 May 2019.