Caves
of the Burren
There are many caves in the Burren. Only two of them are open
to the public.
These are Aillwee Cave (Ballyvaughan) and Pol an Ionáin
(Doolin).
The rain dissolves limestone and forms deep cracks and caves.
This can take millions of years to happen.
Aillwee Cave
Aillwee Cave near Ballyvaughan is one of the oldest caves
in Ireland, Aillwee was once home to a raging underground
river fed by streams seeping through the limestone of Aillwee
Mountain. Calcite deposits have formed stalactite and stalagmite
formations throughout the cave system. It is believed that
bears, extinct in Ireland for over a 1000 years, may have
hibernated in the caves - the bones of a bear have been excavated
from one of the chambers. First discovered in the 1940s, the
original showcave opened to the public in 1976. Further exploration
has revealed more tunnels and chambers.
Pol an Ionáin
Pol an Ionáin was discovered in 1952 by two English
cavers called Varley and Dickenson. It opened to the public
in May 2006. It contains a stalactite that is almost seven
meters long and is believed to be one of the largest in the
world. This stalactite is still growing. Experts say it is
never going to fall because it is anchored into very deep
rock. The cave contains lots of smaller stalactites as well.
Back
to Clareschoolsadvice.com
|
