What Are The Marble Arch Caves Made Of
Kate asked richard what it was like.
What are the marble arch caves made of. The marble arch caves descend to a depth of 94 metres below ground at its deepest point and were so named by local people who believed the caves to be made of marble when in fact it is limestone. Marble arch caves allows visitors to explore a fascinating natural underworld of rivers waterfalls winding passages and lofty chambers. In flood it has a discharge volume of up to 10 cubic metres or 10 tons of water per second. The marble arch caves global geopark straddles the border between northern ireland and the republic of ireland it is centred on the marble arch caves and in 2001 it became one of the first geoparks to be designated in europe.
The marble arch caves are a series of natural limestone caves located near the village of florencecourt in county fermanagh northern ireland the caves are named after the nearby marble arch a natural limestone arch at the upstream end of cladagh glen under which the cladagh river flows. The geopark features various sites which demonstrate the geological and wider natural heritage of the area as well as the cultural heritage relating to 7 000 8 000. Lively and informative guides conduct tours past a bewildering variety of cave formations stalactites glisten above stream ways and chambers while fragile mineral veils and cascades of creamy calcite. Marble arch caves global geopark can trace its history back to 1985 when the marble arch caves were opened as a tourist attraction by fermanagh district council.
The marble arch caves is host to one of the finest show caves in europe. Kate mcgrath manager of the marble arch caves richard watson former manager of the marble arch caves. Today the marble arch caves is the flagship site within the marble arch caves global geopark a unesco designation given only to areas of special. The caves are formed from three rivers draining off the northern slopes of cuilcagh mountain which.
January 1985 march 2018 this week leading up to the 35 th anniversary of the opening of the marble arch caves kate and richard had a virtual call where they discussed the caves and our 35th birthday. Set in the heart of the marble arch caves unesco global geopark the marble arch caves pay homage to the fascinating secrets of a world of subterranean rivers winding passages lofty chambers and an array of delicate cave formations. Originally employing only a handful of staff the marble arch caves enjoyed a great deal of success and quickly expanded its facilities to accommodate ever growing numbers of visitors. The marble caves is a group of caves made of marble situated in the chile portion of the general carrera lake in south america.
The cave river emerges from the largest cave resurgence in ireland. Human time has little meaning in the marble arch caves where a stalactite hanging from the cave roof may take more than 100 years to add just one millimetre to its length.