Crystal Cave (Pennsylvania)

Formations found in Crystal Cave.

Odd shapes can be found all around the cave.

The Upside-Down Ice cream Cone.

Crystal Cave is a cave in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, United States, the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. It has been visited by millions of people since its discovery on November 12, 1871. It was found by Gideon Merkel and John Gehret. Greenwich Township farmer Samuel D. F. Kohler bought 47 acres (190,000 m²) of land, including the cave, for $5,000 in 1872. The next year he began charging 25 cents admission. The cave was used, at one time, for crop storage and dances were held in the largest room.

Some rock formations in Crystal Cave are a half-million years old. The lowest point, Devil's den, is 155 feet (47 m) below the Earth's surface and in it live thirty to forty North American brown bats. The highest point in the cave is 65 feet (20 m) below the Earth's surface, in an area that is called "Lookout Point", for it gives a view of two-thirds of the cave. Tours are thirty to forty-five minutes long. The cave remains at 52 °F (11 °C), 54 °F (12 °C), and 56 °F (13 °C) in different areas all year round. From the main entrance of the cave to the back of the cave, it measures 500 feet (150 m) long. One rock formation is called "The Upside-down Ice Cream Cone", for the different-colored calcite deposits that look like vanilla ice cream and chocolate ice cream, along with moss and plant life that looks like mint ice cream. Also, there is an enormous drop rock that separates a room in two creating a natural bridge.

See also

• List of caves in the United States

External links

• Crystal Cave Park website
• Roadside America

Coordinates: 40°31′33″N 75°50′33″W / 40.5257°N 75.8426°W / 40.5257; -75.8426