Janine in a mud cave, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California.
Yesterday we went exploring some mud caves. It is believed that Anza-Borrego may have the largest mud caves in the world. According to the book Anza-Borrego Desert Region
, (a great resource by the way), there are at least 22 known caves. The largest caves are over 1,000 feet long with rooms up to 80 feet high and 30 feet wide. Some of the caves like this one have dry waterfalls. Researcher Dwight Carey notes that subterranean streams are buried at depths of up to 180 feet. Since the erosion rate is low, these caves may be thousands of years old!
It is crazy to think there are subterranean streams in such a dry location!
We explored a couple of caves. The first one just kept going and going, turn after turn – we finally chickened out before ever reaching the end – it is spooky in there!
The one in the photo was my favorite, not only because of the huge chamber created by the dry waterfall, but because it had a sky light making it a bit easier to photograph.
Comments 12
Crazy Ron. You’re finding all sorts of places out there. This sounds interesting.
Nice capture, I didn’t know there were caves there. A little scary if self guided.
Super spooky! Love Janine as scale but can’t believe she went in there with you!!
Creeeeepy!!! (Beautiful, too, of course.)
Hi Ron: the mud caves are fascinating and spooky – I agree. It takes a lot of faith – especially in a radically seismic state – to explore something that contains NO bedrock or any solid supporting structures! 😉
The Lindsay book is the bomb.
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Thanks a lot everyone!
Yes, definitely a spooky place. It is kind of like a glacier cave – you know going inside isn’t the best idea, but they are too cool to stay out!
Never heard of these before. What a wonder!
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Thanks Joni!
Lookin GOOOOD Aunt Janine:)
Hi Uncle Ron! missed you at dinner tonight!
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Missed you too Kaylee – thanks!
Really interesting Ron – I haven’t read much about these before. I have to agree, these do look a bit spooky – especially after just recently seeing the movie Sanctum.
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LOL – I don’t think I would want to have seen Sanctum first!