Post by Sharon Faulkner on Oct 13, 2006 7:45:27 GMT -5
On the way home from the Cave-In on Sunday, October 8, I thought we would stop by for a quick tour of the upper entrance of Sauta Cave, just outside Scottsboro, Alabama. Apparently about 50 other people had the same idea and came by to take advantage of the self-led tours available at the cave, located in the Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge. When we arrived at the parking area there were roughly 30 vehicles parked in the parking area and lined up the road. I had toured the lower section of the cave several years ago, which is mostly stream passage, at times wading in almost waist high water that reeks of bat guano, but had never toured the upper levels. The upper area is completely different, very dry and dusty. Not a lot in the way of formations, but plenty of large passage and some remnants of saltpeter mining still evident in the cave. We only saw a small portion of the cave this trip. It would be interesting to spend more time exploring several areas off the main route.
Sauta cave, mined for saltpeter during the Civil War, has an interesting history. In addition to saltpeter mining, it was used as a nightclub in the Roaring 20's (maybe the 20's didn't roar, I can't remember) and later designated a fallout shelter. The cave currently serves as a summer roosting site for about 200,000 to 300,000 gray bats and a winter hibernaculum for both the gray and Indiana bats. There are two entrances into the cave on the Refuge but they are gated and closed to the public. Our visit took place on the one day each year that the upper entrance is opened for visitation.
Here are a few photos. The last one gives you an indication of the size of the entrances to the cave and the large bat friendly gates installed.
Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge
More on Sauta, including a photo of the lower entrance to the cave.
See Saturday's trip to Howard's Waterfall Cave
Sauta cave, mined for saltpeter during the Civil War, has an interesting history. In addition to saltpeter mining, it was used as a nightclub in the Roaring 20's (maybe the 20's didn't roar, I can't remember) and later designated a fallout shelter. The cave currently serves as a summer roosting site for about 200,000 to 300,000 gray bats and a winter hibernaculum for both the gray and Indiana bats. There are two entrances into the cave on the Refuge but they are gated and closed to the public. Our visit took place on the one day each year that the upper entrance is opened for visitation.
Here are a few photos. The last one gives you an indication of the size of the entrances to the cave and the large bat friendly gates installed.
Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge
More on Sauta, including a photo of the lower entrance to the cave.
See Saturday's trip to Howard's Waterfall Cave
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