Tennessee's Lost Sea

[Hardenbergh]

I don't remember learning very much about this in school. The Lost Sea is the world's second largest underground lake and draws about 150,000 visitors a year.

Tennessee's Lost Sea

I guess the CNN article must have been lost in all the news about Hurricane Katrina. Here's another link:

Lost Sea

 

[ungoliant]

thanks, i love that kind of thing. maybe i'll have to pay it a visit next time i am in the south.

 

[Chris Haynes]

Cool!

Though I think I would get a bit claustrophobic, especially when they turn the lights out! I was the first one to turn my helmet light on during a tour of the Copper Queen Mine in Bisbee, AZ (http://www.cityofbisbee.com/queenminetours.htm ).

Earlier this month we visited the largest sea cave: http://www.sealioncaves.com/2root/see/cave.html

I was okay until I read the board that explained the geology and mentioned the large crack on the roof of the cave. It didn't help that the last time we were in Oregon a big chunk of rock fell off of the cliff at Multnomah Falls (it is mentioned in this article: http://www.a2zgorge.info/area/columbia_gorge_waterfalls.htm ).

Geology rocks!

 

[Neutiquam Erro]

My favorite (recent) Tennessee geological discovery:

The Rumble Room

 

[espritch]

I've been to The Lost Sea a couple of times. It's pretty interesting to boat around on a lake in a cave.

For pure scenic value though, I prefer Forbidden Caverns which isn't too far from The Lost Sea. Both are worth a visit.

 

[stamenflicker]

They do overnight trips that take you to special areas of the cave too, but you need a certain group size. I've done this several times and its awesome... you get more history of the cave too, including a tour of the area the saber cat fell into thousands of years ago.

Scary thing to me is that they still haven't been able to find the bottom of the lake. They tried sending cameras down there but apparently the rock formations are so sensitive down there than a slight bump or even oxygen bubbles off the equipment was causing staglatites on the cave ceiling to bash the equipment. Kind of creepy when they are telling you this while you are riding in the boat...

Flick