Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky (KY), United States

Facts & Statistics
Place Name	Mammoth Cave National Park
Place Status (Type)	national park
Location	Kentucky, United States, North America
Latitude	unknown
Longitude	unknown

Mammoth Cave National Park ( 82 sq mi/212 sq km), Edmonson, Hart, and Barren cos., S central Ky., in Pennyroyal region. Site of Mammoth Cave, one of the largest known caves in the world, located in hilly, forested region drained by Green and Nolin rivers. Composed of a series of subterranean chambers and narrow passages formed by the dissolution of limestone, the cave has 5 separate levels. The cave has at least 330 mi/531 km of explored passageways with a large variety of limestone formations (stalactites, stalagmites, and columns), and subterranean lakes and rivers. Echo R., c.360 ft/110 m below the surface, flows through the cave's lowest level and drains into the Green R. Also Hanson's Lost R., joins Mammoth Cave with the extensive Flint Ridge cave system; this long-sought link was discovered in 1972. The temp. (54°F/12°C) and relative humidity (87%) remain constant during the year throughout the cave. The cave contains the mummified body of a man believed to date from the pre-Columbian period. Eyeless fish, bats, and insects are also found. Mammoth Cave was a long-time Native Amer. habitation before it was explored by Ky. pioneers in 1799. During the War of 1812, saltpetre was mined in the cave for gunpowder. Numerous other caves in and around park. Variety of surface wildlife and flora. Authorized 1926.