From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cave of the Winds (Colorado)
Cave of the Winds (Colorado)
In 1989, a new passage named "Old Curiosity Shop"
was opened, billed as the most narrow passage in the
cave of the winds, traversing it gains a look at the
"Colorado Rose" a beaded helectite, and "Spider Web Val-
ley", a collection of delicate helectites. This passage was
opened to make tour groups moving through the "Fat
Man’s Misery" a little easier.[citation needed]
In popular culture
Speleothems inside the cave
Cave of the Winds is a cave in the Pikes Peak region
of Colorado. It is located just west of Colorado Springs on
US Highway 24, near the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. Tours
of the complex of caves are given daily.
Silent Splendor
By far the most famous section of the Cave of the Winds is
the Silent Splendor room. Discovered in 1984[1], the room
contains numerous rare crystalline speleothems. Unfor-
tunately, the room must be sealed off from the gener-
al public in order to maintain its delicate environment.
Other names for the crystal formations are White Beaded
A tour guide leads a party of visitors through Cave of the
Anthodite, Cave Coral, or Cave Flowers. Also commonly
Winds (May 1972).
considered to be Beaded Helectites which defy the laws
of gravity by growing in strange directions and not grav-
• The cave is a setting for a 2006 episode of the
ity forced down like many cave formations. Silent Splen-
animated television series South Park, entitled
dor is sealed from public view by an Environmental Gate,
"ManBearPig".
a large tube made of PVC that seals in moisture to allow
the area of the cave to continue forming,
References
Other attractions [1] History of Cave - 1980s - from the official website
[2] Proclamation 5801 -- Mother’s Day, 1988
Other lesser known attractions include a "bottomless
pit," often the scene of practical jokes by the guides, and
a one of a kind region referred to as "the rat." External links
In the late 1980s a few new passages were opened in-
Media related to Cave of the Winds (Colorado) at Wiki-
side the cavern. On May 8, 1988, Mother’s Day[2], a cham-
media Commons
ber called the "Adventure Room" was opened. Left in a
• Official website
more natural state than most of the cave, the adventure
• Review of Cave of the Winds and Guided Tour
room has dirt floors, lower amounts of lights (compared
• Panoramas from the Cave of the Winds, up to 113.5
to other chambers inside the cave) and gives entry to
Megapixels
the Manitou Grand Caverns where Lantern Tours are giv-
Coordinates: 38°52′21″N 104°55′12″W / 38.8725°N
en.[citation needed]
104.920°W / 38.8725; -104.920
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cave of the Winds (Colorado)
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Categories:
• Manitou Springs, Colorado
• Caves of Colorado
• Landmarks in Colorado
• Limestone caves
• Show caves in the United States
• Visitor attractions in El Paso County, Colorado
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