The One Place In Kentucky That Must Be Seen To Be Believed
By Rachel Shulhafer|Published February 13, 2017
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Rachel Shulhafer
Author
I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. I have lived elsewhere twice, but keep coming back. I'm a video editor and freelance writer who enjoys watching people wearing University of Louisville uniforms excel at sports, scaling the faces of large rocks, and hanging out with my border collie/laborador/cattle dog mutt thingy that I have.
There are some natural wonders that are so astounding, it is hard to believe they’re even real. They look so magical, yet mesmerizing, that you might think you’ve been transplanted into a fairy tale, or maybe even onto a different planet. Sure, you can marvel at incredible photographs, but they really don’t do the place justice. If there’s only one place in Kentucky that is so spectacular that it must be seen to believed, then that would be Mammoth Cave.
Mammoth Cave National Park is located in Edmonson, Hart, and Barren Counties in central Kentucky.
There are tons of outdoor activities to do here, such as hiking, biking, and kayaking down the Green River, but the most popular attraction by far is the park's namesake, Mammoth Cave, which is the longest cave system known in the world.
This massive cave is thought to contain more than 405 miles of subterranean passageways. This mind-blowing geological formation is made up of thick limestone and a layer of sandstone. Geologists believe the oldest parts of Mammoth Cave began to form about 10 million years ago.
It is believed that humans have interacted with the cave for more than 6,000 years. Thousands of people flock to the park every year to tour the cave, which an early tour guide named Stephen Bishop once called a "grand, gloomy, and peculiar place."
You will be blown away by the sheer vastness of this cave. The geological features within the cave are mind boggling. The cave's Mammoth Dome is 192 feet high, and the Bottomless Pit is 105 feet deep.
There is also a ton of history within the cave. At least seven mummies have been found in these passageways. However, signs of more recent human activity can also be seen, such as these saltpeter mines. Saltpeter was a key ingredient in making gunpowder. Much of the saltpeter needed during the War of 1812 was mined in Mammoth Cave, mostly by a workforce of slaves.
One of the most popular tours to take is the Frozen Niagra Tour, which gets its name because the formations you will see resemble a frozen waterfall. The tour is a short hour and 15 minutes, and isn't too strenuous, which makes it a great option for people touring with children.
The River Styx is a semi-subterranean stream that surfaces in the park. There is a tour called the River Styx Tour, but it is not offered during the winter season, which will end March 10, 2017. This tour lasts two hours and 30 minutes, and follows along this waterway.
