List of caves in Tennessee explained

This is a list compiling the most notable caves out of all 10,000 found in the US state of Tennessee. This is the most caves of any state, estimated to be around twenty percent of all caves in America.[1] The reason behind this is believed to be because Tennessee was once below a shallow ocean, where the bodies of ancient sea creatures built up over long periods of time to form limestone, the primary mineral required to form caves.[2] The limestone is then eroded by rain to form caves.[3]

List of caves

CaveImageCountyLengthYear discoveredNotes
Bell Witch CaveRobertson County490feetOn the property of John Bell's estate, known for folk tales about the Bell Witch.[4]
Blue Spring CaveWhite County40miles[5] 1989Longest cave in Tennessee, 10th longest cave in the US, and 44th longest cave in the world.
Big Bone CaveVan Buren County9.627miles[6] c. 1810
Cherokee CavernsKnox County1miles1854
Craighead CavernsMcMinn County0.75milesc. 1820Home to the Lost Sea, the largest underground lake in the United States and second largest in the world.[7]
Cumberland CavernsWarren County27.7miles[8] 1810
Devilstep Hollow CaveBledsoe County360feet[9] 920 ADSource of the Sequatchie River.[10]
Dunbar Cave State ParkMontgomery County8.067miles
Forbidden CavernsSevier County0.5milesc. 1920
Hubbard's CaveWarren County1810[11] Largest gray bat hibernaculum in Tennessee.[12]
Lookout Mountain CavernsHamilton County12miles1823No longer accessible since 2005.[13] Connected to Ruby Falls.
Lost Cove CaveFranklin County2milesAlso known as the Buggytop Cave.
Nickajack CaveMarion County1miles1800Famed singer Johnny Cash once attempted suicide here following years of drug abuse, but survived following a spiritual experience.[14]
Raccoon Mountain CavernsHamilton County5.5miles1853Only place in the world where Nesticus furtivus (also known as the Crystal Caverns Cave Spider) is found.[15]
Ruby FallsHamilton County700feet1928Contains tallest and deepest subterranean waterfall open to the public in the United States at 145feet tall.[16] Connected to Lookout Mountain Caverns.
Rumbling Falls CaveVan Buren County16.09miles[17] 1998Has the second-largest cave chamber in the United States.[18] Found in Fall Creek Falls State Park.
Snail Shell CaveRutherford County9miles[19] 1951Part of a larger cave network 13miles in length.
Tuckaleechee CavernsBlount Countyc.1850Has the tallest underground waterfall in the eastern United States at 210feet.[20]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tennessee Caves (and the Bats That Use Them). The Nature Conservancy. January 31, 2019. October 28, 2024.
  2. Web site: TenneSEA. Tennessee State Museum. May 21, 2024. October 28, 2024.
  3. Web site: Caving. Tennessee State Parks. November 2, 2024.
  4. Web site: Tennessee Legends: The Bell Witch. Tennessee State Museum. October 27, 2022. October 29, 2024.
  5. Web site: Blue Spring Cave. Outside by Nature. November 3, 2018. October 28, 2024.
  6. Web site: USA LONGEST CAVES . https://web.archive.org/web/20060421125645/http://www.caverbob.com/usalong.htm . usurped . April 21, 2006 . Gulden . Bob . November 28, 2016 . NSS Geo2 Long & Deep Caves . November 7, 2017.
  7. Web site: Exploring the "rich history" of America's largest underground lake. CBS News. August 14, 2019. November 2, 2024.
  8. Web site: Discover Cumberland Caverns, America’s Greatest Caving Adventure. Cumberland Caverns. October 28, 2024.
  9. Web site: Devilstep Hollow Cave, Tennessee. Ancient Art Archive. October 28, 2024.
  10. Web site: THE WILDSIDE: Magical beauty in Cumberland County. Crossville Chronicle. April 5, 2009. October 28, 2024.
  11. Web site: Hubbard's Cave. The Nature Conservancy. October 29, 2024.
  12. Web site: Hubbard's Cave Class II Natural-Scientific State Natural Area. Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. October 29, 2024.
  13. Web site: Mysterious & Legendary Caves at Lookout Mountain. Gadsden Messenger. October 29, 2024.
  14. Web site: A Southern Writer's Journal: Johnny Cash at Nickajack. Chattanooga Pulse. April 18, 2013. October 29, 2024.
  15. Web site: Crystal Caverns cave spider. US Fish and Wildlife Service. September 30, 2003. 2024-10-29.
  16. Web site: Ruby Falls. 2024-10-29. Outdoor Chattanooga.
  17. Web site: USA Long Cave List. 2024-10-29. Cave-Exploring.com.
  18. Web site: 2002-02-24. Exposing Tennessee’s Titanic Cave Chamber. 2024-10-29 . National Geographic.
  19. Web site: SCCi Acquires Snail Shell Cave. 2008-06-02. Southeastern Cave Conservancy. October 29, 2024.
  20. Web site: Caves Amaze: There are 10,000 caverns in Tennessee, here are the best ones. WZTV. April 2, 2021. November 2, 2024.

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