![]() ![]() As this water drips and flows within the cavity of the cave it leaves a very small amount of dissolved rock on the cavern ceiling, walls and floor, gradually creating the cave formations known as speleothems. Ground water, acquiring a small amount of carbonic acid from the air and vegetation on the surface, dissolves the Dolomite rock as it works its way into the caverns. Ancient earthquakes created cracks in the Dolomite rock, as the inland sea gradually receded the water enlarged the cracks to form the caverns. This occurred in an inland sea, which covered the area at that time. Shells and skeletons of ancient marine life mixed with sand, clay, and other material to form the Copper Ridge Dolomite rock. The caverns began forming about 300 million years ago. The cave opens several times throughout the year for public tours. ![]() ![]() The creek then tumbles down a 25-foot waterfall into a chasm.Ĭherokee Caverns is not open on a daily basis. In the sink, a small babbling creek twists and turns until it reaches the opening which is about 10 feet by 4 feet. The entrance to the earthen shelter is at the end of a sink immediately off the road. ![]()
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