Colossal Cave (32°3′44″N 110°38′2″W / 32.06222°N 110.63389°WCoordinates: 32°3′44″N 110°38′2″W / 32.06222°N 110.63389°W) is a large cave system in southeastern Arizona, approximately 22 miles SE of Tucson Arizona. It contains about 35 miles (56 km) of mapped passageways, and was discovered by Soloman Lick in 1879. Temperatures inside average 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) year-round.[1]
The cave is an ancient karst cave, classified as "dry" by guides (though this is not a speleologic term). The meaning of this is that its formations are completely dry, or "dead", and do not grow. This is because the cave was formed by water depositing limestone, but this source has disappeared. It instead feeds the "active" nearby Arkenstone Cave that continues to grow formations.
Colossal Cave was used from 900 to 1450 AD by the Hohokam, Sobaipuri, and Apache Indians. The cave was rediscovered in 1879 by Solomon Lick, the owner of the nearby Mountain Springs Hotel. He was searching for stray cattle when he discovered the entrance to the cave. The cave was then used as a guano source, and a tunnel, 25 metres (82 ft) long, was built in 1905, and a total of seven train cars of guano were filled. The deposit was soon exhausted, and the tunnel was abandoned. Today the cave is a popular tourist destination.[2]
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