Photo By: Jacob Lips
An interesting tourist spot with an interesting story—the Carlsbad Caverns National Park tells a lot of stories: from its geological formation to its rich history. The unique natural structures of the 46,766-acre park in New Mexico were enjoyed by over 450,000 visitors, in 2018.
History
The Speleogenesis of the cave was a product of the different natural layers in the area: beds of limestone above groundwater. And below the limestone were petroleum reserves. These and the different chemicals coupled with various natural phenomena crafted the cave, now known as the Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Its story of discovery is very interesting, as a teenager named Jim White had stumbled over the natural marvel while exploring the cavern, with a makeshift ladder, in1898. He named the major tourist spots in the park.
After the word spread about the natural caverns, people started exploring, despite difficult routes. On Oct. 25, 1923, President Calvin Coolidge signed the proclamation, establishing the area as the Carlsbad Cave National Monument. Seven years later, the monument officially became a national park. Then in 1978, two-thirds of the park was declared as the Carlsbad Caverns Wilderness. In 1995, the park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Photo By: Jacob Lips
Things to do
Exploring the caverns
Of course, this should be the goal of visiting the park in the first place—to understand how it got its name. The park is home to 119 caves, but only three are open to the public. The Carlsbad Caverns is the most popular of the caves, as Slaughter Canyon Cave and Spider Cave are still undeveloped.
The Carlsbad Caverns cave is known for its beautiful calcite formations. At this cave, visitors will get to see the most popular cavern known as the Big Room, which is also recorded as the fifth largest chamber in North America. It is ranked 28th in the world. The Natural Entrance Trail is a steep hike route that will take visitors to witness rock formations: Devil’s Spring, Iceberg Rock, and Whale’s Mouth.
Bat watching
Caves are usually associated with bats. While it is not available all the time but from late May to October, the park has a Bat Flight Program. This is a nighttime discussion with a ranger, who will extensively talk about bats just before they take flight. It is truly an experience one will not forget. In the third week of July, the park celebrates the Dawn of the Bats or the return of these winged creatures to the darkness of the caves, via the Bat Flight Amphitheater. There are 17 species of bats inside the Carlsbad Caverns.
Stargazing
After the Bat Flight Program, a limited number of visitors may also participate in the Star Walks and Moon Hikes. Those who will participate in the Star Walk will check out stars and other heavenly bodies, through a powerful telescope.
Picnic at the Rattlesnake Springs
It is not as scary as its name sounds. This is an isolated part of the national park. It was a residential as well as an agricultural area in the 1880s. Visitors can see the Pump House built in 1933, as well as a Ranger’s Residence, which was erected in 1940. This area was given a place in the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
Drop by the Visitor Center
The center regularly shows a 16-minute film called “Hidden World,” which is about the adventure that awaits people at the Carlsbad Caverns. This is being shown at the center, every 30 minutes so visitors don't miss it. The area also offers tourists to watch exhibits, and understand the complicated natural process, by which the caverns were formed. The center also has a small bookstore, gift shop, and restaurant.
Flora and fauna
Wild animals roam freely inside the park. Among them are the deer, sheep, squirrels, raccoons, and javelinas. Tourists are not allowed to feed them, as it can disrupt their diet. Also, visitors have to remember that they are wild animals, so they could be dangerous.
The Rattlesnake Spring has been designated as an Important Bird Area, with some 300 species of birds recorded to have been seen in the region, so one may add bird watching to their to-do list.
The park is a desert, which explains the more common plants in the region: cacti and shrubs. About 900 species of vascular plants have been discovered in the park. There are also 135 species of grass plants and some 153 species of sunflower, spread across the park.
Photo By: Jacob Lips