Niagara Cave
Passageway in Niagara Cave
Map showing the location of Niagara Cave
Map showing the location of Niagara Cave
LocationFillmore County, Minnesota, United States
Coordinates43°30′50″N 92°03′18″W / 43.5140°N 92.0551°W / 43.5140; -92.0551[1]
Depth200 ft
Discovery1924[2]
GeologyGalena formation, Ordovician Limestone
AccessTours are available in season
LightingSolar Energy[3]
Visitors25,000 - 30,000 per year[4]
FeaturesUnderground river, Subterranean waterfall, Wedding chapel, Fossils
Websiteniagaracave.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]

Niagara Cave waterfall
Niagara cave wall

References

  1. ↑ "The Underground Waterfall of Niagara Cave". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  2. 1 2 Binkley, Mike (6 July 2014). "Finding Minnesota: The Cave That Pigs Discovered". CBS WCCO. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  3. ↑ Jeffers, Barb. "Niagara Cave harnesses solar energy". Fillmore County Journal. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  4. 1 2 Weiss, John (2014-06-07). "Niagara Cave celebrates 90 years, with lantern light". The Post Bulletin. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  5. ↑ Smelter, Kyle (18 July 2016). "Niagara Cave: What Lies Below". Minnesota Monthly. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  6. ↑ "3½ Hours to Natural Wonder". Maple Grove Magazine. Minneapolis, MN: Tiger Oak Media. 2014-07-01. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  7. ↑ Hahn, Amy Jo. "Niagara Cave". Minnesota Historical Society MNopedia. Harmony Area Historical Society. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ Lively, R. S. (1995). "Minnesota at a Glance Caves in Minnesota". Minnesota Geological Survey. hdl:11299/59431. Retrieved 15 May 2019.


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