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Biological: Organ Cave is very rich in its bio-diversity. To date, 12 different troglobitic species have been discovered. Organ is the type locale for four species.
Organ Cave is also the home of three endangered species of bats, the Indiana Bat,
the Gray Bat, and the Virginia Big Eared. It has two rare species, the Small
Footed Bat and the Silver Haired Bat. This is the home of four
common bats; big brown, little brown, eastern pipistrelle, and the northern big
eared.
Depth: With a depth of 486 feet, Organ is one of
the deepest in the United States. After the Friars Hole and Scott Hollow Caves,
Organ is the third deepest cave in West Virginia.
Economic: The main Organ Entrance is one of four
commercial caves in the state.
Aesthetic: Typical to all long caves, Organ Cave
has many areas which contain very beautiful, pristine, and impressive
formations.
Geological: Organ Cave is a West Virginia Contact
Cave. Water collects to the east on the MacCrady Shale, then flows west and
contacts the Greenbrier Limestone, where it begins cave formation. Organ Cave is
one of the finest examples of geology underground.
Historical: Organ Cave is a National Natural
Landmark, and a National Historic Landmark. There are published accounts of tourism dating back to 1822 as a stage
coach stop and opened to the public as a commercial cave in 1835. Organ Cave's role in the
American Revolutionary War,
War of 1812 and the Civil War as a saltpetre mining facility was significant. The Cave contains vats from both
wars and its entrance room was used for church services for Confederate
soldiers.
Hydrological: Small streams, located in the
northern and eastern parts of Organ Cave, bring water into the cave. These small
streams feed larger streams, and the end result is a dendritic maze in the
upstream parts of Organ Cave. The overall cave system contains at least nine
large stream passages, and many of these traverse extremely long sections of the
cave system. Three of these streams lie directly over each other along the axis
of the syncline, and this results in a uniquely-stacked hydrological
system.
Paleontological: The Organ Cave System is, without a
doubt, one of the richest Pleistocene and Recent-Age paleontological treasure
troves in West Virginia and the United States. A partial list of the animals
found to date include Black Bear, Bobcat, nine species of Bats, Dire Wolf,
beautiful Armadillo, Porcupine, Brown (Grizzly) Bear, Saber-toothed Cat,
Complicated-toothed Horse, Long-nosed Peccary, Caribou, the tooth of an
American Mastodon and the remains of the megaloynx jeffersoni, the giant
3-toed sloth. This was the first sloth found in American and today is still
the largest one found.
Length: Organ Cave is one of the longest caves in
the world. It has historically varied between the 2nd and 5th longest in the
United States. As of 2005, the 22nd longest in the world.
Recreational: Organ Cave, because of the extremely large number of underground routes,
is the
premier caving experience in the state. Caving groups can choose from between a
half-dozen relatively easy "standard" tours and can tailor their trips with an infinite number of
possibilities. This cave is labeled as one the most extreme adventures
that West Virginia has to offer. |
