New St Michael's Cave

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New St Michael's Cave
Gibraltar

Various cave formations at New St Michael's Cave
Co-ordinates: 36°7’33"N, 5°20’46"W
Length: 250 yards
Access: Organised tours
Geology: Limestone

New St Michael's Cave, also known as Lower St Michael's Cave, is a cave system in Gibraltar. Unlike its namesake, St Michael's Cave (proper), which has been known for over 2,000 years, this cave was discovered as recently as Second World War.

The cave was accidentally discovered during Second World War, when in 1942 the Royal Engineers were blasting inside the Rock of Gibraltar so as to create an alternate entrance to the lower chambers of St Michael's Cave, which had been prepared as an emergency hospital. The first sign was when their tunnelling appeared to create no rubble as it had fallen through the newly created opening into this previously undiscovered cave which may have remained sealed for some 20,000 years.[1]

The cave's chambers include examples of almost all known cave formations, including a lake nearly 40 yards long containing an estimated 45,000 gallons of crystal-clear water.[1] After the war, the cave and every visitor was supervised by the Ministry of Defence, specifically the Royal Engineers. It was not until the 1970s that civilian guides were authorised. Within ten years, the guides were all civilians as the Gibraltar Tourist Board took over the cave's management from the military.[2]

Three-hour guided tours of the cave can be arranged, ending with viewing the underground lake.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 "Lower St Michael's Cave". Visit Gibraltar. http://www.visitgibraltar.gi/tour-lower-st-michaels-cave. 
  2. ↑ Perez, Charles E. (2005). Upper Rock Nature Reserve page 69. Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society. http://www.gonhs.org/documents/UpperRockNatureReserveManagementActionPlan.pdf. 
  3. ↑ Ham, Anthony (1 January 2010). Andalucía. Lonely Planet. p. 152. ISBN 978-1-74179-012-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=96J7AD2uWWkC&pg=PA152. Retrieved 17 January 2013. 


Caves of Gibraltar

Abbot's • Alameda Grotto • Ape's Den • Beefsteak • Bell's Backyard • Bellman's • Bennet's • Blackstrap • Boathoist / Bulman's • Bray's • Brown's • Buena Vista • Buffadero • Caleta Palace • Camp Bay • Catalan Bay Road • Catalan Bay • Catchment • Cave S • Collin's • Comcen • Coptic • Cormorant • Cousin's • Crystal • Crystal Cavern • Cumberland • Dead Man's • Devil's Dustbin • Devil's Fall • Devil's Gap • Devil's Tower • Diesel's Delight • Douglas • Dudley Ward's • E Queen's Line • Europa Advance • Europa Pass • Fig Tree • Forbe's Quarry • Genista Caves • George's Bottom • Gibbon's • Glen Rocky, Shelter • Goat's Hair • Goat's Head • Gorham's • Gunn's • Harley Street • Hayne's • Holy Boy's • Horseshoe • Ince's • John's Giant • Judge's • Landport • Leonora's • Levant • Liddell's Union • Lookout • Mammoth • Marble Arch • Martin's • Martin's Guard • McNeil's • Mediterranean • Middle Hill • Monkey's • Moorish Castle Barracks • Moor's • Mount Misery • Mousterian Rock Shelter • Mushroom • Nameless • Nursery • O'Hara's • Operation Monkey • Painter's • Parson's Lodge • Pete's Paradise • Poca Roca • Queen's • Queen's Lines • Ragged Staff • Reservoir 4, & 5 • Reservoir Fissure • Rifle Dustbin • Rock Fall • Rock Gun • Rock Gun Catchment Shelter • Ronald's Delight • St Michael's, Old, New, Lower, Roof Passage • Sandy: Lower, Upper • Sapper's Bog Scorpion • Sea Caves • Shed • Signal Troop • Smart's Well Reserve • Smith’s • Smuggler's • South • Spanish Mine • Spider • Spur Road • Star Chamber • Swallow's Nest • Tina's • Transmitter • Upper All's Well • Vanguard • Viney Quarry • William's • Willis • Wilson's • Winkies

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