Illinois Caverns State Natural Area: Difference between revisions

Illinois Caverns State Natural Area
Illinois Caverns State Natural Area
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
	Drapery and flowstone in Chimney Dome
	Map of the U.S. state of Illinois showing the location of Illinois Caverns State Natural Area Illinois Caverns State Natural Area (the United States)
Location	Monroe County, Illinois, U.S.
Nearest city	Waterloo, Illinois
Coordinates	38°14′08″N 90°08′13″W / 38.23556°N 90.13694°W
Area	120 acres (49 ha)
Established	April 23, 1901
Governing body	Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Latest revision as of 23:42, 7 January 2024

Illinois Caverns is a state natural area in the New Design Precinct of Monroe County, Illinois. It features Illinois Caverns which is alternatively known as Mammoth Cave of Illinois (also Burksville Cave, Egyptian Cave, Eckert Cave). Illinois Caverns is the second-largest cave in Illinois and has more than 9.6 km of passages.^[1] The cave has a constant temperature of 58 °F (14 °C), and portions flood during wet weather. Passages can be 20 feet (6.1 m) high and just as wide. It is located off Illinois Route 3, south of Waterloo, near the unincorporated community of Burksville.

History

What is now known as Illinois Caverns hosted its first paying customers in March 1901, operated by a Mr. White of East Saint Louis. It is the only cave in Illinois to have been commercially operated, attracting many visitors from St. Louis during the 1904 World's Fair. However the cave was never considered a commercial success (it closed in 1907), and had remained almost completely unimproved, excepting the extant concrete entrance stairs and a single ladder. When the cave and environs were sold to the State of Illinois in 1985, care of the site was entrusted to Armin Krueger, until his death.

Geology

The cave was, and in fact still is being formed in the Mississippian limestone (CaCO₃) and dolomite (CaMg(CO₃)₂) (or karst common to the region) by water dissolution, and includes cave formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, rimstone dams, flowstone, and soda straws. The cavern is a branchwork type cave, which generally consists of a central cavern and stream with smaller passages and tributaries branching off. Numerous circular, crater-like depressions are evident in the area surrounding the entrance, easily visible from the air or space.^[2] These are typical of both the area and karst topography in general.

Cave fauna

Fauna in the cave includes bats, salamanders, frogs, crickets, amphipods, and isopods. Illinois Caverns is home to the federal endangered species Gammarus acherondytes (a.k.a. Illinois Cave Amphipod). This species of amphipod is found nowhere else in the world except a few neighboring caves located in the southwestern Illinois karst.

Visitation

The cave was closed to visitors in early 2010 to stop the spread of white-nose syndrome (WNS) in bats. The cave reopened to visitors on June 16, 2021.

Persons desiring to enter the cave need a permit. A minimum of four people per party is needed for entrance into the cave. Each person needs to have a hardhat, boots, sturdy clothing, and three sources of light. At times some portions of the cave may be off-limits, these areas should be clearly marked.

External links

Illinois Caverns State Natural Area — official website
Illinois Caverns Grotto Map - Rock River Speleological Society
"Illinois Caverns Closure Notice". Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved July 16, 2018.

References

^ Panno, S.V.; S.E. Greenberg; C.P. Weibel; P.K. Gillespie (2003). A Guide to the Illinois Caverns State Natural Area. Illinois State Geological Survey GeoScience Education Series. p. 66.
^ "satellite view, Google Maps"

[1] Panno, S.V.; S.E. Greenberg; C.P. Weibel; P.K. Gillespie (2003). A Guide to the Illinois Caverns State Natural Area. Illinois State Geological Survey GeoScience Education Series. p. 66.

[2] "satellite view, Google Maps"

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|State park in Illinois, USA}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
 {{Infobox Protected area
 | name = Illinois Caverns State Natural Area
@@ Line 4: / Line 6: @@
 | photo_caption = Drapery and flowstone in Chimney Dome
 | iucn_category = V
-| map = USA Illinois
+| map = USA Illinois#USA
 | map_width = 225
 | map_caption = Map of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Illinois]] showing the location of Illinois Caverns State Natural Area
-| location = [[Monroe County, Illinois|Monroe County]], [[Illinois]], [[United States|USA]]
+| location = [[Monroe County, Illinois|Monroe County]], [[Illinois]], [[United States|U.S.]]
 | nearest_city = [[Waterloo, Illinois]]
-| coordinates = {{coords|38|14|08|N|90|08|13|W|display=inline, title}}
+| coordinates = {{coord|38|14|08|N|90|08|13|W|display=inline, title}}
 | area_acre = 120
 | established = April 23, 1901
@@ Line 19: / Line 21: @@
   | last =Panno
   | first =S.V.
-  | authorlink = |author2=S.E. Greenberg |author3=C.P. Weibel |author4=P.K. Gillespie
+  |author2=S.E. Greenberg |author3=C.P. Weibel |author4=P.K. Gillespie
   | title = A Guide to the Illinois Caverns State Natural Area
   | publisher = Illinois State Geological Survey GeoScience Education Series
   | year = 2003
-  | location =
-  | url =
-  | doi =
-  | id =
   | page = 66  }}</ref>  The cave has a constant temperature of {{convert|58|F|C}}, and portions flood during wet weather.  Passages can be {{convert|20|ft}} high and just as wide. It is located off [[Illinois Route 3]], south of [[Waterloo, Illinois|Waterloo]], near the [[unincorporated community]] of [[Burksville, Illinois|Burksville]].
@@ Line 33: / Line 31: @@
 ==Geology==
-The cave was, and in fact still is being formed in the [[Mississippian age|Mississippian]] [[limestone]] (CaCO<sub>3</sub>) and [[dolomite]] (CaMg(CO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>) (or [[karst]] common to the region) by water dissolution, and includes cave formations such as [[stalactite]]s, [[stalagmite]]s, [[Speleothem|rimstone dams]], [[flowstone]], and [[soda straw]]s.
+The cave was, and in fact still is being formed in the [[Mississippian age|Mississippian]] [[limestone]] (CaCO<sub>3</sub>) and [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomite]] (CaMg(CO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>) (or [[karst]] common to the region) by water dissolution, and includes cave formations such as [[stalactite]]s, [[stalagmite]]s, [[Speleothem|rimstone dams]], [[flowstone]], and [[soda straw]]s.
-The cavern is a branchwork type cave, which generally consists of a central cavern and stream with smaller passages and tributaries branching off. Numerous circular, [[sinkhole|crater-like depressions]] are evident in the area surrounding the entrance, easily visible from the air or space.<ref>"[https://maps.google.com/maps?q=38.235556,-90.136944&ie=UTF8&ll=38.23558,-90.136937&spn=0.005591,0.00456&t=h&z=18&om=0 satellite view, Google Maps]"</ref> These are typical of both the area and karst topography in general
+The cavern is a branchwork type cave, which generally consists of a central cavern and stream with smaller passages and tributaries branching off. Numerous circular, [[sinkhole|crater-like depressions]] are evident in the area surrounding the entrance, easily visible from the air or space.<ref>"[https://maps.google.com/maps?q=38.235556,-90.136944&ie=UTF8&ll=38.23558,-90.136937&spn=0.005591,0.00456&t=h&z=18&om=0 satellite view, Google Maps]"</ref> These are typical of both the area and karst topography in general.
-==Cave Fauna==
+==Cave fauna==
 Fauna in the cave includes [[bat]]s, [[salamander]]s, [[frog]]s, [[Cricket (insect)|crickets]], [[amphipod]]s, and [[isopod]]s. Illinois Caverns is home to the federal endangered species ''[[Gammarus acherondytes]]'' (a.k.a. Illinois Cave Amphipod). This species of amphipod is found nowhere else in the world except a few neighboring caves located in the southwestern Illinois karst.
 ==Visitation==
-The cave has been closed for visitors since early 2010 to stop the spread of [[white-nose syndrome]] (WNS) in bats.
+The cave was closed to visitors in early 2010 to stop the spread of [[white-nose syndrome]] (WNS) in bats. The cave reopened to visitors on June 16, 2021.
-Persons desiring to enter the cave need a permit; see official web site below for more information.  A minimum of four people per party is needed for entrance into the cave.  Each person needs to have a hardhat, boots, sturdy clothing, and three sources of light. At times some portions of the cave may be off-limits, these areas should be clearly marked.
+Persons desiring to enter the cave need a permit. A minimum of four people per party is needed for entrance into the cave.  Each person needs to have a hardhat, boots, sturdy clothing, and three sources of light. At times some portions of the cave may be off-limits, these areas should be clearly marked.
-To reach Illinois Caverns from the north, take Route 3 south past Waterloo about two miles, make a right on Kaskaskia Road. In Burksville, make a left onto KK Road heading east, then a right on G Road, the entrance is on the right, about two and a quarter miles south of KK Road.
-From Red Bud, take Route 3 north for about five miles and make a left onto II Road. Bearing left at Sportsmans Road, proceeding through [[Tipton, Monroe County, Illinois|Tipton]] and bearing right at the Y intersection with R Road, to remain on II Road for about five miles, until it crosses G Road. Make a right and the entrance will be on the left, less than a mile north of II Road.
 ==External links==
 *[https://stateparks.com/illinois_caverns_state_natural_area_in_illinois.html Illinois Caverns State Natural Area] &mdash; official website
-*[http://www.caves.org/grotto/rrss/ILCaverns.htm  Illinois Caverns Grotto Map - Rock River Speleological Society]
+*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130107080605/http://www.caves.org/grotto/rrss/ILCaverns.htm  Illinois Caverns Grotto Map - Rock River Speleological Society]
-*{{cite web |url= http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/closures/Pages/IllinoisCavernsClosure2Mar2011.aspx |title= Illinois Caverns Closure Notice|accessdate=2018-07-16 | publisher = [[Illinois Department of Natural Resources]]}}
+*{{cite web |url= http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/closures/Pages/IllinoisCavernsClosure2Mar2011.aspx |title= Illinois Caverns Closure Notice|access-date=2018-07-16 | publisher = [[Illinois Department of Natural Resources]]}}
 ==References==
@@ Line 58: / Line 52: @@
 {{Metro-East}}
 {{Protected Areas of Illinois}}
+{{authority control}}
 [[Category:Caves of Illinois]]
@@ Line 65: / Line 61: @@
 [[Category:Landforms of Monroe County, Illinois]]
 [[Category:1985 establishments in Illinois]]
-[[Category:Nature reserves in Illinois]]
+[[Category:State Natural Areas of Illinois]]

v t e Illinois Metro-East region
Counties	Bond Calhoun Clinton Jersey Macoupin Madison Monroe St. Clair
Major cities (25,000+)	Alton Belleville Edwardsville Granite City O'Fallon
Cities (5,000-25,000)	Bethalto Cahokia Heights Carlinville Collinsville Columbia East Alton East St. Louis Fairview Heights Glen Carbon Godfrey Greenville Highland Jerseyville Maryville Mascoutah Pontoon Beach Shiloh Staunton Swansea Troy Waterloo Wood River
Communities (1,000-5,000)	Albers Aviston Beckemeyer Benld Breese Brighton Bunker Hill Carlyle Caseyville Dupo Fairmont City Freeburg Germantown Gillespie Girard Hartford Lebanon Madison Marissa Millstadt Mount Olive New Athens New Baden Rosewood Heights Roxana St. Jacob Smithton South Roxana Trenton Valmeyer Venice Virden Wamac Washington Park Worden
Transit systems	Madison County Transit Metro Transit South Central Illinois Mass Transit District St. Clair County Transit District
Amtrak stations	Alton station Belleville station (former)
Interstates	I-55 I-64 I-70 I-255 I-270
Airports	MidAmerica St. Louis Airport St. Louis Downtown Airport St. Louis Metro-East Airport St. Louis Regional Airport Scott Air Force Base
Colleges	Kaskaskia College Lewis and Clark Community College Blackburn College McKendree University Principia College Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Southwestern Illinois College
Sports teams	Gateway Grizzlies (baseball: Frontier League) Alton River Dragons (baseball: Prospect League)