Witches' Cave

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". The Witches' Cave (in Spanish, Caverna de las Brujas) is a cave, a nature reserve and a national natural monument in Argentina. It is located in the Moncol Hill, at Script error: No such module "convert". above mean sea level, within the Malargüe Department, in the south of Mendoza Province (Cuyo region), about Script error: No such module "convert". southwest of the town of Malargüe.

The cave covers an area of Script error: No such module "convert". and was declared a provincial reserve (Reserva Provincial Caverna de las Brujas) in 1990. It is a solutional limestone cave, formed by Jurassic sedimentary rock that rose from the ocean as the Andes emerged during the Cenozoic Era. The rock was eroded by underground water currents and vertically fractured. Further erosion occurred at the end of the last Ice Age, when precipitation was much higher than today.

File:Witches' Cave stalactites.jpg
Stalactites damaged by visitors

The Witches' Cave is home to many speleothems (such as stalactites and stalagmites), deep underground water galleries, and large vaulted spaces called Sala de la Virgen (Virgin Room) and Las Flores (The Flowers). It hosts a particular fauna adapted to live without solar radiation (spiders and springtails). The galleries closest to the entrance are occasional shelters for bats and mice.

About Script error: No such module "convert". of the cave's passages have been explored.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". The site is one of the major tourist attractions in southern Mendoza, but visitors are only granted access (with a guide and proper equipment) to the first Script error: No such module "convert". of galleries, which are already damaged.

External links


Template:SouthAm-protected-area-stub Template:Asbox