Crystal Cave (Sequoia National Park)
Encyclopedia
Crystal Cave is a marble
cave
in Sequoia National Park
, in the U.S. state
of California
. It is one of at least 240 known caves in the park
.
It is in the Giant Forest
region, between the Ash Mountain
entrance of the park and Giant Forest.
The cave is a constant 9 °C (48 °F), and only accessible by guided tour.
In 2003, the Sequoia National History Association (SNHA) created the Protect Sequoia Caves Program after vandals damaged areas in the entranceway to Crystal Cave.
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
in Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is a national park in the southern Sierra Nevada east of Visalia, California, in the United States. It was established on September 25, 1890. The park spans . Encompassing a vertical relief of nearly , the park contains among its natural resources the highest point in the...
, in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is one of at least 240 known caves in the park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
.
Giant Forest
The Giant Forest, famed for its giant sequoia trees, is within Sequoia National Park. This montane forest, situated at over above mean sea level in the western Sierra Nevada of California, covers an area of...
region, between the Ash Mountain
Ash Mountain Entrance Sign
The Ash Mountain Entrance Sign at Sequoia National Park was constructed in 1935 by Civilian Conservation Corps craftsmen. Featuring a carved Native American face, the sign was made from blocks of sequoia wood and fastened with wrought iron brackets....
entrance of the park and Giant Forest.
The cave is a constant 9 °C (48 °F), and only accessible by guided tour.
In 2003, the Sequoia National History Association (SNHA) created the Protect Sequoia Caves Program after vandals damaged areas in the entranceway to Crystal Cave.