Amelia the explorer: Jewel Cave, Lake Cave Margaret River, WA

In the Margaret River region we camped in the Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park, a magnificent area of granite, limestone and sandunes. It was a really popular spot and there were many people camped, despite the windy conditions. (Our packup time on the final morning was a world record- 30 minutes from when we first crawled from bed til we left the campsite all packed up, with grey skies and huge raindrops on the windscreen.)

Just 5 minutes away is Jewel Cave, the largest show cave and spectaular formation of limestone in WA. The stalactites and stalactites straws (obviously thin structures with holes in the middle, formed from the cave roof- with Jewel Cave having the longest anywhere) are fascinating as is the concept that stalactites and straws do not just grow downwards but sometimes at angles of almost 45 degrees. This cave has the greatest range of formations, over 6 different types of structure. Many of the formations have been christened with names such as, waves, jellyfish, spaghetti, and the "Jewel Casket". The tour was informative and entertaining and we also enjoyed the karri forest entry to the cave. The cave is only open during cooler months as it contains high levels of Co2, and at times needs to be closed to the public. The guides actually have to measure their own personal levels before they go down each time to do a tour. Apparently the cave breathes in and out with the atmospheric pressure and this also varies the carbon dioxide levels. This cave is an active cave, although the stalactites grow incredibly slowly- less than a centimetre in 30 years or so. My photos have not done this magnificent place justice but I tried...

Jewel Cave in all it's glory

"Coral"

Impressive shawls

Pipe Organ formation

The lightshow was spectacular

Some of the stalactites form sheets, thin lengths of limestone called shawls.

Straws and sheets

A unfortunate possum fossil at the lowest depths.

Jewel Casket

Lake Cave

This limestone cave is fascinating, even though it has fewer variations of formations. It's famous because of the water it permanently holds at its base and a tabletop formation, which I have photos of. It's no longer growing despite the water coming in at lower levels. This was the first cave we ventured into and it was amazing. It's history is also funny, it was first discovered by a 17 year old girl who was out on her horse. She found the impressive treelined doline (large hole) and then it wasn't found again for 40 years- until her brother happened upon it.

The water level within Lake Cave has dropped over the last 30 years, and there is some talk about how to recreate the more impressive higher water levels, but the debate is raging and nothing is yet to be decided. It fills naturally now from a river in the Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park and it would be challenging to recreate the exact water chemical content. The water adds so much to the overall feel of the cave, reflecting the formations and lights beautifully.

The tabletop formation is only one of two worldwide- the other being in Chile. It occurs when stalactites meet the water on the cave floor and limstone builds up between them, forming a plate (or table). When the water level drops, the limstone table is suspended midair. It's pretty impressive.