Spring Valley Caverns

Spring Valley Caverns are a cave system in southeastern Minnesota near Stewartville in Olmsted County and Spring Valley, in Fillmore County, in between the North and South Branches off the Root River, more or less along U.S. Highway 63. The region is within the Driftless Area, a region noted for its karst topography, which includes caves and sinkholes.

Located on the privately-owned Cave Farm Karst Preserve, the system measures about 5½ miles in length, making it the largest system in Minnesota. [http://www.karstpreserve.com/svc.html Spring Valley Caverns, owner's site] , Retrieved July 21, 2007] It is listed as the 131st largest in the United States [ [http://www.caverbob.com/usalong.htm Caverbob.com] , Retrieved July 21, 2007]

The caves were discovered first in 1966; in 1989, John Ackerman, the present owner acquired the caves with easements for cave rights in adjacent regions. Ackerman has progressively developed the system. [http://www.karstpreserve.com/history.html History of Spring Valley Caverns] , Retrieved July 21, 2007] Entry is by fee, and is tightly controlled. [http://www.intothevoid.com/old/svc.html Overview of the cave system] , Retrieved July 21, 2007]

References

External links

* [http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2005NC/finalprogram/abstract_86851.htm Geological Society of America (GSA) report on floods in the caves] , Retrieved July 21, 2007
*Lisa Brainard, [http://www.hometown-pages.com/main.asp?SectionID=14&SubSectionID=23&ArticleID=10487 "‘Iconoclast’ Ackerman continues cave discoveries; makes national magazine’s ‘Best of Adventure’ list] , Bluff Country Newspaper Group, Retrieved July 21, 2007