Cave of the Winds (Colorado)
Encyclopedia
Cave of the Winds is a cave
in the Pikes Peak
region of Colorado
. It is located just west of Colorado Springs on US Highway 24, near the Manitou Cliff Dwellings
. Tours of the complex of caves are given daily.
Other names for the crystal formations are White Beaded Anthodite, Cave Coral, or Cave Flowers. Also commonly considered to be Beaded Helectites which defy the laws of gravity by growing in strange directions and not gravity forced down like many cave formations.
Silent Splendor is sealed from public view by an Environmental Gate, a large tube made of PVC that seals in moisture to allow the area of the cave to continue forming,
In the late 1980s a few new passages were opened inside the cavern. On May 8, 1988, Mother's Day
, a chamber called the "Adventure Room" was opened. Left in a more natural state than most of the cave, the adventure room has dirt floors, lower amounts of lights (compared to other chambers inside the cave) and gives entry to the Manitou Grand Caverns where Lantern Tours are given.
In 1989, a new passage named "Old Curiosity Shop" was opened, billed as the most narrow passage in the cave of the winds, traversing it gains a look at the "Colorado Rose" a beaded helectite, and "Spider Web Valley", a collection of delicate helectites. This passage was opened to make tour groups moving through the "Fat Man's Misery" a little easier.
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 the Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak is a mountain in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, west of Colorado Springs, Colorado, in El Paso County in the United States of America....
region of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. It is located just west of Colorado Springs on US Highway 24, near the Manitou Cliff Dwellings
Manitou Cliff Dwellings
The Manitou Cliff Dwellings are a fake historical site located just west of Colorado Springs, Colorado on US Highway 24 in Manitou Springs.- Anasazi Museum:...
. Tours of the complex of caves are given daily.
Silent Splendor
By far the most famous section of the Cave of the Winds is the Silent Splendor room. Discovered in 1984, the room contains numerous rare crystalline speleothems. Unfortunately, the room must be sealed off from the general public in order to maintain its delicate environment.Other names for the crystal formations are White Beaded Anthodite, Cave Coral, or Cave Flowers. Also commonly considered to be Beaded Helectites which defy the laws of gravity by growing in strange directions and not gravity forced down like many cave formations.
Silent Splendor is sealed from public view by an Environmental Gate, a large tube made of PVC that seals in moisture to allow the area of the cave to continue forming,
Other attractions
Other lesser known attractions include a "bottomless pit," often the scene of practical jokes by the guides, and a one of a kind region referred to as "the rat."In the late 1980s a few new passages were opened inside the cavern. On May 8, 1988, Mother's Day
Mother's Day
Mother's Day is a celebration honoring mothers and celebrating motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, yet most commonly in March, April, or May...
, a chamber called the "Adventure Room" was opened. Left in a more natural state than most of the cave, the adventure room has dirt floors, lower amounts of lights (compared to other chambers inside the cave) and gives entry to the Manitou Grand Caverns where Lantern Tours are given.
In 1989, a new passage named "Old Curiosity Shop" was opened, billed as the most narrow passage in the cave of the winds, traversing it gains a look at the "Colorado Rose" a beaded helectite, and "Spider Web Valley", a collection of delicate helectites. This passage was opened to make tour groups moving through the "Fat Man's Misery" a little easier.
In popular culture
- The cave is a setting for a 2006 episode of the animated television series South ParkSouth ParkSouth Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
, entitled "ManBearPigManBearPig"ManBearPig" is the sixth episode of the tenth season of Comedy Central's South Park. It originally aired on April 26, 2006. The episode parodies the film An Inconvenient Truth.- Plot :Former U.S...
".
External links
- Official website
- Review of Cave of the Winds and Guided Tour
- Panoramas from the Cave of the Winds, up to 113.5 Megapixels