Gunns Plains Cave
Encyclopedia
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
show cave
Show cave
Show caves — also called tourist caves, public caves, and in the United States, commercial caves — are caves that are managed by a government or commercial organization and made accessible to the general public, usually for an entrance fee...
, near Gunns Plains
Gunns Plains
Gunns Plains is located 20 km south of Ulverstone on the north-west coast of Tasmania.This valley has a population of approximately 300. The Leven River winds slowly through its pastures that support a variety of grazing stock...
in the midlands of north Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, twenty kilometres from Ulverstone.
History
The cave was discovered in 1906 by a local Gunns Plains man, Bill Woodhouse, while hunting for possums. A possum eluded him down a hole which led him directly to the cave. This opening served as the original entrance to the cave and early tourists needed to descend by rope from it, three storeys to the cave floor. 54 steps were later constructed from concrete, leading from the natural cave floor to a new entrance cut into the hillside. This steep and narrow staircase still exists in its entirety and remains the only public entrance and exit to the cave.Because candlelight and torchlight were troublesome, power and fixture lighting was installed throughout to illuminate the walking track and the cave's unique features. In 2003 the system was updated to be of more benefit to visitors.
As of 2004 the cave is maintained on behalf of the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service
Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service
Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service is the Tasmanian Government body responsible for the care and administration of Tasmania's National Parks and wildlife.-History:...
by Geoff and Patricia Deer, who lease the rights to manage the cave. There are daily tours.
Features
Many beautiful cave formations are present, such as stalactites, stalagmite
Stalagmite
A stalagmite is a type of speleothem that rises from the floor of a limestone cave due to the dripping of mineralized solutions and the deposition of calcium carbonate. This stalagmite formation occurs only under certain pH conditions within the underground cavern. The corresponding formation on...
s, helictites and a large array of dazzling flowstone
Flowstone
Flowstones are composed of sheetlike deposits of calcite formed where water flows down the walls or along the floors of a cave. They are typically found in "solution", or limestone caves, where they are the most common speleothem. However, they may form in any type of cave where water enters that...
are present in the public section of the cave.
A further one kilometre of wild cave was mapped in the early 20th century, but due to difficulty it is not readily open to the public, with at least one section requiring crawling through a low opening on ones knees through shallow water.
Nature
Tasmanian giant freshwater crayfish
The Tasmanian giant freshwater crayfish is the largest freshwater invertebrate in the world. The species is only found in Tasmania , and is listed as a vulnerable species due to habitat loss and over fishing. It is also severely threatened by siltation and de-snagging of streams as decaying wood...
, Platypus
Platypus
The platypus is a semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Together with the four species of echidna, it is one of the five extant species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young...
, freshwater fish and eels. A celebrated animal in the cave, the glow worm (or Arachnocampa
Arachnocampa
Arachnocampa is a genus of four fungus gnat species which are, in their larval stage, glowworms. They are found mostly in New Zealand and Australia in caves and grottos, or sheltered places in forests....
) can be consistently found with its signature silk threads dangling from the ceiling.
See also
- CavingCavingCaving—also occasionally known as spelunking in the United States and potholing in the United Kingdom—is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems...
- Gunns PlainsGunns PlainsGunns Plains is located 20 km south of Ulverstone on the north-west coast of Tasmania.This valley has a population of approximately 300. The Leven River winds slowly through its pastures that support a variety of grazing stock...
- List of caves in Australia
- Show caveShow caveShow caves — also called tourist caves, public caves, and in the United States, commercial caves — are caves that are managed by a government or commercial organization and made accessible to the general public, usually for an entrance fee...
- SpeleologySpeleologySpeleology is the scientific study of caves and other karst features, their make-up, structure, physical properties, history, life forms, and the processes by which they form and change over time...
Further reading
- Blanden, Stephen (2004) Caves of Gunns Plains, Gunns Plains, Tas. ISBN 0-9752026-0-X
- Blanden, Stephen (2008) Gunns Plains Cave: Tasmania Gunns Plains, Tas. ISBN 978-0-9752026-1-6
External links
- Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service: Gunns Plains Cave
- Australian Speleological Federation (ASF), a national environmental organisation promoting the protection of Australia's unique cave systems.