THE CAVERNS
Like many caverns in the Mid-Atlantic states, Indian Echo Caverns is a limestone cave. Cut through Beekmantown limestone, which is over 440 million years old, they were formed through the erosive properties of water.
All rainwater is slightly acidic. It's not so strong an acid that humans would be able to feel it, but it is strong enough to dissolve soft rock like limestone. Over time, geological forces led to an "uplift" of the surrounding limestone, which allowed more and more water to flow through the formation. As the water flowed through the limestone, more and more rock was dissolved and worn away. Eventually, over millions of years, it created the caverns as they are today.
The majority of the rock found at Indian Echo Caverns is limestone. However, this limestone comes in a wide variety of colors due to elemental impurities. These different colors do not necessarily signify different types of rock--just different impurities.
The formations found inside the caverns all take a significant amount of time to form. For instance, it takes stalactites about 100-150 years to form one cubic inch of material. Because of this, Indian Echo Caverns is actually protected by state law despite the fact that it is privately owned.
The temperature inside the caverns is 52 degrees year around.
LIFE INSIDE THE CAVERNS
Life using the cavern environment can be divided into two groups:
- Animals that live part of their lives inside caverns.
- Animals that live their entire lives inside caverns.
Animals that live part of their lives inside caverns usually use it for shelter. Examples of this type of life would be bats, bears, raccoons, and other mammals. They are called troglophiles.
Animals which live inside caverns for their entire lives include some insects, crustaceans, and blind fish. They are called troglobites.
For information regarding ticket prices, hours of operation, and other general information please call:
717-566-8131
To log this Earthcache please email Indian Echo Caverns with the answers to these questions:
1) What evidence do you see that Indian Echo Caverns are still growing and developing?
2) Are there more examples of troglophiles or troglobites living in the caverns?
3) What is the name of the oldest stalagmite in the caverns?
4) What element gives the rocks in the "Rainbow Room" their bright colors? (Hint: Pennsylvania is VERY rich in this ore.)