Lost River Caverns
Encyclopedia
Lost River Caverns is a natural limestone
cavern consisting of 5 chambers. The caverns were formed by the karstification
or dissolving of the limestone by water
. In the past the caverns have been called Rentzeimer's Cave and Lost Cave. The "Lost River", so named because the source and mouth of the river have not yet been discovered, flows through it. The caverns are located on the east side of Hellertown, Pennsylvania
, USA. The temperature in the cave is consistently in the 52 °F (11.1 °C) area. There is a gift shop and a museum before the entrance.
Tours are guided, and payment is upon exiting the cavern. The Lost River Caverns is not hazardous from rock falls because all of the rocks are covered with a natural rock cement, preventing them from falling. The rock path may be slippery from dripping water, though.
It was discovered in 1883 when a limestone quarry cut into it. It is presently open to the public.
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....
cavern consisting of 5 chambers. The caverns were formed by the karstification
Karst topography
Karst topography is a geologic formation shaped by the dissolution of a layer or layers of soluble bedrock, usually carbonate rock such as limestone or dolomite, but has also been documented for weathering resistant rocks like quartzite given the right conditions.Due to subterranean drainage, there...
or dissolving of the limestone by water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
. In the past the caverns have been called Rentzeimer's Cave and Lost Cave. The "Lost River", so named because the source and mouth of the river have not yet been discovered, flows through it. The caverns are located on the east side of Hellertown, Pennsylvania
Hellertown, Pennsylvania
Hellertown is a borough in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Hellertown is located in the Lehigh Valley region of the state, and geographically in the Saucon Valley.The population of Hellertown was 5,606 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, USA. The temperature in the cave is consistently in the 52 °F (11.1 °C) area. There is a gift shop and a museum before the entrance.
Tours are guided, and payment is upon exiting the cavern. The Lost River Caverns is not hazardous from rock falls because all of the rocks are covered with a natural rock cement, preventing them from falling. The rock path may be slippery from dripping water, though.
It was discovered in 1883 when a limestone quarry cut into it. It is presently open to the public.