Jenolan Caves

The Jenolan Caves are an extensive network of limestone caves in Australia. They are located within the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve. This reserve sits in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. The caves are located west of the Blue Mountains. They are also west of Sydney and east of Katoomba. These caves are incredibly significant to science. They are the oldest known and dated open cave system in the world.

Scientists have determined the age of these caves through complex geological methods. They measured the ratio of radioactive potassium to trapped argon gas. This gas is produced when potassium decays over long periods. By studying the clay in the caves, they found it is 340 million years old. This makes the system a major site for geological study. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) leads much of this research. They work with the University of Sydney and the Australian Museum.

The cave system functions through the movement of water. A subterranean section of the Jenolan River flows through the network. This water carves out multi-level passages over millions of years. The network contains more than 300 different entrances. Inside, visitors can see beautiful calcite formations. These mineral structures can sometimes appear pure white. The caves also contain numerous Silurian marine fossils within the bedrock.

Indigenous peoples have known this area for thousands of years. The Gundungurra and Wiradjuri peoples have deep cultural ties to the land. They used various names for the area, such as Binomil or Bin-oo-mur. A Gundungurra Dreamtime story describes the creation of the country. It involves a struggle between two spirits: Gurangatch, an eel-like creature, and Mirrigan, a large native cat. The Gundungurra people even used the subterranean water for healing. They believed the water held curative powers for the sick.

European discovery of the caves happened in the 1830s. Most accounts credit James Whalan with the discovery in 1838 or 1841. He was actually pursuing a thief named McKeown who had stolen livestock and tools. James reported the find to his brother, Charles Whalan. Charles later conducted visitors to the caves in the 1840s. In 1866, the NSW Government took control of the site. It became the second area in the world reserved for conservation.

Many different caves have been discovered by early keepers. Jeremiah Wilson was appointed the first Keeper of the Caves in 1867. He discovered the Imperial, Jersey, and Jubilee caves. Later, J. C. Wiburd discovered five more caves, including the River and Orient caves. Some caves are famous for specific features. The Chifley Cave was the first in the world to use electric light in 1880. The Temple of Baal features a massive 9-metre shawl called the Angel's Wing.

Today, the Jenolan Caves are a major tourist destination. There are eleven illuminated show caves open to the public. The Jubilee Cave is the longest show cave, though it is the least visited. The Orient Cave was the first in the world to be cleaned in 1968. Scientists found that steam cleaning could damage crystal formations. Now, they use water from the underground rivers for cleaning instead. The area is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains Area.

The caves are also important for studying ancient life. Nettle Cave contains "crayfish backs." These are stromatolites shaped by cyanobacteria, light, and wind. These formations are estimated to be at least 20,000 years old.

Since 2011, researchers have used a new hand-held system to map the caves. This allows them to create highly detailed three-dimensional maps. This technology helps scientists understand the complex structure of the entire system.