- Sudwala Caves
The Sudwala Caves in
Mpumalanga ,South Africa , are set inPrecambrian dolomite rock, which was first laid down about 3800 million years ago, whenAfrica was still part ofGondwanaland . The caves themselves formed about 240 million years ago, making them the oldest knowncave s in the world.The caves were used for shelter in prehistoric times, probably due in part to a constant supply of fresh air from an unknown source in the caves. In more modern times, the caves were discovered by
Somquba , one of the sons of theSwazi kingSobhuza I , who was fleeing from his brother Mswati II. Somquba and his followers used the caves as refuge, until Somquba was killed in an unexpected attack. Survivors stayed on under the leadership of aninDuna (headman or leader) named Sudwala, thus the name.During the
Second Boer War , in 1900, the caves were used by theBoer s to store ammunition for their 94-pounder Long Tom guns. It was thought that the caves may have been used by PresidentPaul Kruger to store the legendary "Kruger Millions", gold bullion which reputedly disappeared somewhere betweenWaterval Onder andNelspruit during Paul Kruger's flight fromPretoria toLourenco Marques (nowMaputo ).In 1914 a company was formed to excavate huge amounts of
bat guano ; this was sold as fertilizer to farmers.The Sudwalaskraal farm that is home to the caves was purchased in
1965 by Philippus Rudolf Owen, and he opened the caves as a tourist attraction.The major chamber in the Sudwala Caves is the P. R. Owen Hall; it is 70 metres in diameter and 37 metres high, with a constant temperature of 17°C. This chamber was used as a concert hall on a number of occasions, including July 1970, when the Russian singer
Ivan Rebroff gave a concert.There are a number of
calcium structures in the cave, known by names such as the "Lowveld Rocket", "Samson's Pillar", and the "Screaming Monster"; some have been dated to 200 million years old. There are also microbial fossils of a cyanobacterium known ascollenia in the rock; these formed 2000 million years ago.The Sudwala Caves are a popular tourist attraction in
Mpumalanga , and are next to theP R Owen Dinosaur Park . One-hour tours of the cave are run during the day, and a monthly five-hour-long "Crystal Tour" takes adventurous visitors 2000 metres through the cave, with the tour culminating at acrystal chamber that bearsaragonite crystals.ee also
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List of caves in South Africa External links
* [http://www.sudwalacaves.co.za/ Sudwala Caves]
* [http://home.intekom.com/ecotravel/Guides/Reserves/KNP/Kruger_National_Park_Sudwala_Caves.htm Ecotravel - Sudwala Caves]
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