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Carlsbad Caverns National Park Facts

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Facts
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a 46,766 acre park located in southeast New Mexico in the United States. The park's main attraction is Carlsbad Caverns, a system of caves that are believed to be one of the oldest in the world. The caverns were formed approximately 20 million years ago when a limestone reef was forced upward to form the Guadalupe Mountains. The first documented explorer (although it is believed Natives surely discovered them previously) was Jim White, in 1898. In 1923 President Calvin Coolidge declared Carlsbad Caverns as a national monument. In 1930 the national monument was re-designated Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Interesting Carlsbad Caverns National Park Facts:
In 1903 mining began in Carlsbad Cavern for guano. The cave was known at the time as 'Bat Cave,' or 'Big Cave.'
A photographer named Ray V. Davis photographed Carlsbad Cavern between 1915 and 1918. This sparked interest in the cave and helped to inspire the designation of Carlsbad Caverns National Monument in 1923.
Prior to 1925 the only way to enter Carlsbad Cavern was with the use of a guano bucket. In 1925 a wooden staircase was built.
Of the 46,766 acres that make up Carlsbad Caverns National Park, 33,000 acres are further designated as a Wilderness Area.
In 1995 UNESCO designated Carlsbad Caverns National Park as a World Heritage Site.
There are more than 119 known caves in Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
The largest caves in Carlsbad Caverns National Park include Spider Cave, Slaughter Canyon Cave, Lechuguilla Cave, and Carlsbad Cavern.
There are microbes in Carlsbad Caverns that are found nowhere else on earth. Scientists are studying some of the microbes in Lechuguilla Cave for the possibility that they may help to discover a cancer cure.
During the last ice age most of the formations in Carlsbad Caverns were growing.
Approximately 400,000 free-tail bats make Carlsbad Caverns their home in the summer.
There have been fossils and bones found in Carlsbad Caverns National Park dating from the ice age. These include the bones from giant sloths, camels, lions, and jaguars.
There are 17 different bat species found within Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Bat viewing is a popular activity.
There are many named rooms in Carlsbad Caverns including Balloon Ballroom, Bat Cave, Bell Cord Room, Bifrost Room, Chocolate High, Green Lake Room, Guadalupe Room, Hall of the White Giant, Halloween Hall, Papoose Room, The Rookery, Mabel's Room, and Mystery Room, among many others.
Mammals that can be found living in Carlsbad Caverns National Park include cougars, coyotes, foxes, wolves, bobcats, otters, weasels, badgers, skunks, bats, and shrews.
There are 67 mammal species, 357 bird species, 5 fish species, and 55 amphibian and reptile species found in Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Activities in Carlsbad Caverns National Park include hiking, camping, touring the caves, bird watching, and checking out park exhibits.
More than 400,000 people visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park each year. The highest number was in 1976 when more than 875,000 people visited the park.
Will Rogers once referred to the Carlsbad Caverns region as, "Grand Canyon with a roof on it."


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