Cody Caves
Encyclopedia
The Cody Caves are a network of limestone
caves in the Selkirk Mountains
in British Columbia
, Canada
. They are located 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Ainsworth Hot Springs on the west side of Kootenay Lake
.
Discovered in the early 1890s, the caves became protected in July 1966 with the formation of the Cody Caves Provincial Park
.
Cody Caves is one of the best-known cave systems in British Columbia, and Cody Caves Provincial Park
was the first subterranean park created in the province.
formations, such as stalagmites, stalactites, soda straw
s and flowstone
. The boxwork
is considered to be among the best in the world, protruding up to 20.3 cm, whereas 2.5 to 5 cm is average. These ancient formations have been growing at an average rate of one cubic centimetre per hundred years.
The Ainsworth Hot Springs originate in the Cody Caves area and are considered to be the best commercial hot springs in British Columbia. The temperatures vary from 40–42 °C (104–107.6 F) in the cave to 35–38 °C (95–100.4 F) in the pool.
Henry Cody, who with hundreds of others had come to the Kootenays
looking for silver
. The caves gained popularity in 1899 when an article, The Noble Five, was published in Argosy Magazine describing the caves as being "lined with gold".
In 1908, the caves were visited by the Governor General of Canada
, Earl Grey
.
To protect this valuable resource the Cody Caves Provincial Park was formed in July 1966. Due to the delicacy of cave formations, the caves can be explored by guided tour only.
Cody Caves is part of the setting for the children's novel, The Kootenay Kidnapper, by BC novelist, Eric Wilson
.
The caves are accessible to everyone, from expert cavers to novice
s and families. Special three hour long adventure tours as well as school and group tours can also be arranged.
As of September 2011, guided tours and cave access have been suspended to prevent the spread of fungal 'White-Nose Syndrome', an infection that is currently affecting bat colonies across North America. Cave visitors are advised not to carry caving gear from areas east of the Rockies into any BC caves, and enouraged to download and read the website's supplied documentation on White-Nose Syndrome and procedures for decontamination.
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
caves in the Selkirk Mountains
Selkirk Mountains
The Selkirk Mountains are a mountain range spanning the northern portion of the Idaho Panhandle, eastern Washington, and southeastern British Columbia. They begin at Mica Peak near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and extend approximately 320 km north from the border. The range is bounded on its west,...
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. They are located 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Ainsworth Hot Springs on the west side of Kootenay Lake
Kootenay Lake
Kootenay Lake is a lake located in British Columbia, Canada and is part of theKootenay River. The lake has been raised by the Corra Linn Dam and has a dike system at the southern end, which, along with industry in the 1950s-70s, has changed the ecosystem in and around the water...
.
Discovered in the early 1890s, the caves became protected in July 1966 with the formation of the Cody Caves Provincial Park
Cody Caves Provincial Park
Cody Caves Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. It was formed in July 1966 to protect the Cody Caves and was the first subterranean park in British Columbia. The park is 13 km by road, northwest from the hot springs community of Ainsworth on Kootenay Lake.-External...
.
Cody Caves is one of the best-known cave systems in British Columbia, and Cody Caves Provincial Park
Cody Caves Provincial Park
Cody Caves Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. It was formed in July 1966 to protect the Cody Caves and was the first subterranean park in British Columbia. The park is 13 km by road, northwest from the hot springs community of Ainsworth on Kootenay Lake.-External...
was the first subterranean park created in the province.
Description
The story of Cody Caves began 600 million years ago when the limestone in which the caves later formed was laid down at the bottom of an ancient sea. Then, around 170 million years ago, the limestone beds were thrust upwards. This exposed the rock to the elements, water and carbonic acid, which eventually formed Cody Caves. Approximately 875 yards (800.1 m) of the Cody Caves passageways are explorable. The caves have several types of calciteCalcite
Calcite is a carbonate mineral and the most stable polymorph of calcium carbonate . The other polymorphs are the minerals aragonite and vaterite. Aragonite will change to calcite at 380-470°C, and vaterite is even less stable.-Properties:...
formations, such as stalagmites, stalactites, soda straw
Soda straw
A soda straw is a speleothem in the form of a hollow mineral tube. They grow in places where water leaches slowly through cracks in rock, such as on the roofs of caves...
s and flowstone
Flowstone
Flowstones are composed of sheetlike deposits of calcite formed where water flows down the walls or along the floors of a cave. They are typically found in "solution", or limestone caves, where they are the most common speleothem. However, they may form in any type of cave where water enters that...
. The boxwork
Boxwork
Boxwork is an uncommon type of mineral structure, or speleogen , occasionally found in caves and erosive environments....
is considered to be among the best in the world, protruding up to 20.3 cm, whereas 2.5 to 5 cm is average. These ancient formations have been growing at an average rate of one cubic centimetre per hundred years.
The Ainsworth Hot Springs originate in the Cody Caves area and are considered to be the best commercial hot springs in British Columbia. The temperatures vary from 40–42 °C (104–107.6 F) in the cave to 35–38 °C (95–100.4 F) in the pool.
History
The caves were likely known to local aboriginal people, but the first recorded visit was by prospectorProspecting
Prospecting is the physical search for minerals, fossils, precious metals or mineral specimens, and is also known as fossicking.Prospecting is a small-scale form of mineral exploration which is an organised, large scale effort undertaken by mineral resource companies to find commercially viable ore...
Henry Cody, who with hundreds of others had come to the Kootenays
Kootenays
The Kootenay Region comprises the southeastern portion of British Columbia. It takes its name from the Kootenay River, which in turn was named for the Ktunaxa First Nation first encountered by explorer David Thompson.-Boundaries:The Kootenays are more or less defined by the Kootenay Land...
looking for silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
. The caves gained popularity in 1899 when an article, The Noble Five, was published in Argosy Magazine describing the caves as being "lined with gold".
In 1908, the caves were visited by the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
, Earl Grey
Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey
Albert Henry George Grey, 4th Earl Grey was a British nobleman and politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the ninth since Canadian Confederation....
.
To protect this valuable resource the Cody Caves Provincial Park was formed in July 1966. Due to the delicacy of cave formations, the caves can be explored by guided tour only.
Cody Caves is part of the setting for the children's novel, The Kootenay Kidnapper, by BC novelist, Eric Wilson
Eric Wilson (author)
Eric Wilson is a Canadian children's author born in Ottawa, Ontario, and now living in Victoria, British Columbia. He mainly writes mysteries featuring the characters Tom and Liz Austen, which take place in various locations around Canada...
.
Modern day
Today, over 2000 visitors come to Cody Caves Provincial Park every summer. Visitors are guided through the caves on a one hour tour with a professional interpreter.The caves are accessible to everyone, from expert cavers to novice
Novice
A novice is a person or creature who is new to a field or activity. The term is most commonly applied in religion and sports.-Buddhism:In many Buddhist orders, a man or woman who intends to take ordination must first become a novice, adopting part of the monastic code indicated in the vinaya and...
s and families. Special three hour long adventure tours as well as school and group tours can also be arranged.
As of September 2011, guided tours and cave access have been suspended to prevent the spread of fungal 'White-Nose Syndrome', an infection that is currently affecting bat colonies across North America. Cave visitors are advised not to carry caving gear from areas east of the Rockies into any BC caves, and enouraged to download and read the website's supplied documentation on White-Nose Syndrome and procedures for decontamination.
See also
- List of caves
- List of British Columbia Provincial Parks
- Hot springs around the worldHot springs around the worldThere are hot springs on all continents and in many countries around the world. Countries that are renowned for their hot springs include, Israel, Iceland, New Zealand, Chile and Japan, but there are interesting and unique hot springs in many other places as well.- Algeria :* Hammam Essalihine *...