Beach, bushes, penguins, wallabies, kangaroos, koalas, botanical gardens, the Great Ocean Road, surfing high in trees, the Great Barrier Reef, we are determined to see Australia in as many ways as possible, through many different habitats and ecosystems. It was time to go underground Down Under!
We are now in Hobart, Tasmania. Tasmania is the only island state in this island country. It is wondrous and completely wild. On our first day, we hit the famous Salamanca Saturday market. After spending altogether too much money on artisan crafts and delicious food all while getting horribly wet, we decided that the only way to stay dry was to go underground. Off we went to Newdegate Cave, also known as Hastings Cave. Set amidst a dense forest, Newdegate Cave is about 30-60 million years old. It was discovered by chance by English loggers early in the 20th century. The area has over 300 caves, only 10% of which have been explored. Australian authorities have made the conscious choice to leave the remaining 90% unexplored in recognition of the fact that every human exploration comes with damage and interference with the natural ecosystem of the caves.
The Newdegate Cave is large and walkable. You descend into it using stairs and walk along pathways. You are not allowed to touch any of the cave other than the ground you walk upon. Human touch transfers sweat and oil that kills the cave. "Kills?!" Yes, the cave is alive and very much so. "The cave is made of stalactites (they are holding on tight coming out the ceiling) and stalagmites (they might come up). The stalactites and stalagmites are made by water that is seeping underground and into the cave. The cave once had a river in it. Now you can see the wide expanse of the river bed. The guide who took us through the cave told us that once upon a time back in the 70s, people were just handed bits of stalactites as souvenirs. That was so sad! The stalactites and stalagmites have created some incredible formations that are all still forming as water continues to enter the cave. One formation was especially amazing -- it was a tower of champagne! Some stalactites and stalagmites had combined to form a column. One formation even looked like a dragons head and wings! In one spot there is a formation that shows the remains of a waterfall that became frozen in time in the form of stalactites and stalagmites."
Never before had been so obvious to us that caves and rocks are indeed living. They are formed by water and deposits. Soluble water content changes based on events occurring above ground. A bush fire can make the water more grey. You can see grey colored stalactites and stalagmites formed during the time of the bush fire. At other times, dirt and pollutants in the river water make the formations more brown and dark. Purer water makes for bright white formations.
It was humbling to be in the presence of creations that are so ancient and so alive. I think we met the oldest thing alive when we walked through that cave.
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