Riverbluff Cave

The Riverbluff Cave is a paleontological site discovered in the United States, near Springfield, Missouri. The entrance is filled with stalactites, stalagmites and columns. The cave is about 830,000 years old (making it the oldest known fossil cave site in the US [ [http://muconf.missouri.edu/interface/Interface_a/sessions_friday_a.html Return to Riverbluff Cave, Matt Forir, Springfield Park Board, Becky Baker, Missouri State University] ] ) and 610 m long, featuring the Pleistocene fossils, notably of the short-faced bear (Artcodus simus) the largest bear species on the Earth (about 6 feet tall at the shoulder and weighing 1,400 pounds). [ [http://www.riverbluffcave.com/category/cave_animals Riverbluff Cave - The Official Website ] ]

The cave Is located in the widespread karst landscape of the Springfield Plateau of the western Missouri Ozarks and developed within the soluble Mississippian limestones of the region. It was unveiled accidentally, after the blastings for a new road in September 2001 and became the world's second cave to be wired for virtual tours. [ [http://thelibrary.springfield.missouri.org/about/boardminutes/feb06.pdf Springfield-Greene County Library Board of Trustees] ]

The Riverbluff Cave Field House opened in 2005 with exhibits of fossils from Riverbluff Cave and from around the world.

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