Marble Arch Caves
Encyclopedia
The Marble Arch Caves are a series of natural limestone
cave
s located near the village of Florencecourt
in County Fermanagh
, Northern Ireland
. They are formed by water draining off the northern slopes of Cuilcagh
mountain.
and Dublin naturalist Lyster Jameson in 1895, starting at the Cladagh Glen resurgence
, already a popular tourist attraction. Using a canvas boat, and with candles and magnesium flares for light, Martel and Jameson found 1000 feet (305 m) of passages, including the junction where the Owenbrean and the combined Aghinrawn and Sruh Croppa waters meet. In 1908 and later in 1935, groups of English cavers from Yorkshire Ramblers' Club explored further and discovered more chambers, the latter group reaching the limit of today's show cave. In the late sixties a major breakthrough was made when a bypass to sump 1 was found, giving access to the Legnabrocky Way and Skreen Hill 2 and Skreen Hill 3 sections of the cave. A notable feature of the Legnabrocky Way is the Giant's Hall, a large chamber 60 m long, 30 m high and 15 m wide.
In 2009 and 2010 diving connections were made to the nearby cave systems by Artur Koz%C5%82owski, firstly to Prod's Pot – Cascades Rising, doubling the total length of the system from 4.5 to 9 km (5.6 mi), and subsequently to newly established Monastir Sink - Upper Cradle system , extending the system further to 11.5 km (7.1 mi). The discoveries make this the longest cave in Northern Ireland.
s were opened to the public in 1985 following work to make them more accessible the previous year. Tourists can partake in a seventy-five minute tour of the show caves, during which they travel through the first part of the caves in a specially designed boat floating on the subterranean Cladagh River
, before walking through the rest of the chambers. Near the end of the tour they also pass through the Moses Walk, where the roof of the cave was too low to carry on so the floor was dug out. The Moses Walk is so named because the water is either side of the wall.
(EGN). This allocation was due in part to the existence of the caves themselves and also the rare blanket bog which covers a vast area of the mountains. Under an agreement between the EGN and the UNESCO
Earth Sciences division in 2004, the park became part of the Global Network of National Geoparks (GGN) scheme and was renamed Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark
, and in 2008 the park boundaries were extended across the border into parts of County Cavan
, making it the first international Geopark in the world.
has led to damage in the area. Extensive drainage in parts of the bog has damaged the bog's ability to retain water, resulting in flooding and abnormally high water levels in the caves downstream. This has impeded tourist activity in the past. As a protective measure, people have been employed to protect the land around the caves to ensure no further damage ensues.
Another problem is that human interference can cause the limestone to be damaged or eroded. In a particular case in 1984, a group of vandals broke into the showcaves before they were opened to the public and threw stones at any of the formations that could be seen around the entrance. Many small stalactites were snapped off at their bases while the tip of the largest stalactite (over 2 metres in length) within the showcaves was broken off. This tip fell onto a sandbank on the cave floor where it was retrieved the next day by a workman. It was then sent to the Ulster Museum
in Belfast
where a calcite resin was specially produced and subsequently used to stick the tip back onto its original position. This formation can be seen at the end of the tour of the showcaves.
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....
cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
s located near the village of Florencecourt
Florencecourt
Florencecourt is a small village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 135 people. It lies within the Fermanagh District Council area. Historically the area was called Mullanashangan ....
in County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. They are formed by water draining off the northern slopes of Cuilcagh
Cuilcagh
Cuilcagh, historically Slieve Cuilcagh , is the highest mountain in the Breifne area and the 165th highest on the island of Ireland . The summit lies on the border between County Fermanagh and County Cavan , and is the highest point in both counties...
mountain.
History of exploration
The caves were first explored by Édouard-Alfred MartelÉdouard-Alfred Martel
, the 'father of modern speleology', was a world pioneer of cave exploration, study, and documentation...
and Dublin naturalist Lyster Jameson in 1895, starting at the Cladagh Glen resurgence
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
, already a popular tourist attraction. Using a canvas boat, and with candles and magnesium flares for light, Martel and Jameson found 1000 feet (305 m) of passages, including the junction where the Owenbrean and the combined Aghinrawn and Sruh Croppa waters meet. In 1908 and later in 1935, groups of English cavers from Yorkshire Ramblers' Club explored further and discovered more chambers, the latter group reaching the limit of today's show cave. In the late sixties a major breakthrough was made when a bypass to sump 1 was found, giving access to the Legnabrocky Way and Skreen Hill 2 and Skreen Hill 3 sections of the cave. A notable feature of the Legnabrocky Way is the Giant's Hall, a large chamber 60 m long, 30 m high and 15 m wide.
In 2009 and 2010 diving connections were made to the nearby cave systems by Artur Koz%C5%82owski, firstly to Prod's Pot – Cascades Rising, doubling the total length of the system from 4.5 to 9 km (5.6 mi), and subsequently to newly established Monastir Sink - Upper Cradle system , extending the system further to 11.5 km (7.1 mi). The discoveries make this the longest cave in Northern Ireland.
Show cave
Covering a small section of the system, the Marble Arch Caves tour is a popular tourist attraction due to the cave's accessibility and grandeur. The show caveShow 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...
s were opened to the public in 1985 following work to make them more accessible the previous year. Tourists can partake in a seventy-five minute tour of the show caves, during which they travel through the first part of the caves in a specially designed boat floating on the subterranean Cladagh River
River Cladagh
The Cladagh River is a small river in County Fermanagh which rises from Marble Arch Caves, below Cuilcagh Mountain, before flowing through Cladagh Glen Nature Reserve and eventually draining into the Arney River.- Below ground :...
, before walking through the rest of the chambers. Near the end of the tour they also pass through the Moses Walk, where the roof of the cave was too low to carry on so the floor was dug out. The Moses Walk is so named because the water is either side of the wall.
European/Global Geopark status
In 2001, the caves and the nearby Cuilcagh Mountain Park joined to become a European Geopark under the name Marble Arch Caves European Geopark, the first park in the UK to be recognised by the European Geoparks NetworkEuropean Geoparks Network
The European Geoparks Network, often known as the EGN, is a trans-national partnership of Geoparks across Europe formed in 2000 to provide mutual support to established and prospective Geoparks across the continent...
(EGN). This allocation was due in part to the existence of the caves themselves and also the rare blanket bog which covers a vast area of the mountains. Under an agreement between the EGN and the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
Earth Sciences division in 2004, the park became part of the Global Network of National Geoparks (GGN) scheme and was renamed Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark
Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark
The Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark straddles the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It is centred on the Marble Arch Caves and in 2001 it became one of the first Geoparks to be designated in Europe....
, and in 2008 the park boundaries were extended across the border into parts of County Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, making it the first international Geopark in the world.
Conservation issues
The cutting of turfSod
Sod or turf is grass and the part of the soil beneath it held together by the roots, or a piece of thin material.The term sod may be used to mean turf grown and cut specifically for the establishment of lawns...
has led to damage in the area. Extensive drainage in parts of the bog has damaged the bog's ability to retain water, resulting in flooding and abnormally high water levels in the caves downstream. This has impeded tourist activity in the past. As a protective measure, people have been employed to protect the land around the caves to ensure no further damage ensues.
Another problem is that human interference can cause the limestone to be damaged or eroded. In a particular case in 1984, a group of vandals broke into the showcaves before they were opened to the public and threw stones at any of the formations that could be seen around the entrance. Many small stalactites were snapped off at their bases while the tip of the largest stalactite (over 2 metres in length) within the showcaves was broken off. This tip fell onto a sandbank on the cave floor where it was retrieved the next day by a workman. It was then sent to the Ulster Museum
Ulster Museum
The Ulster Museum, located in the Botanic Gardens in Belfast, has around 8,000 square metres of public display space, featuring material from the collections of fine art and applied art, archaeology, ethnography, treasures from the Spanish Armada, local history, numismatics, industrial...
in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
where a calcite resin was specially produced and subsequently used to stick the tip back onto its original position. This formation can be seen at the end of the tour of the showcaves.
See also
- Cuilcagh Mountain Park
- Cladagh Glen Nature Reserve
- List of caves
- List of caves in the United Kingdom
External links
- Official web site for the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark
- Map of the Marble Arch system2010. Marble Arch Project
- Original video footage from connection between Marble Arch and Prod's Pot/Cascades systems2010. Marble Arch Project