Lechuguilla Cave is, as of February 2012, with 134.6 miles (216.6 km) the seventh-longest explored cave in the world and the deepest in the continental United States (1,604 feet or 489 meters), but it is most famous for its unusual geology, rare formations, and pristine condition.
The cave is named for Agave lechuguilla, a species of plant found near its entrance. Lechuguilla is in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico. Access to the cave is limited to approved scientific researchers, survey and exploration teams, and National Park Service management-related trips.
Read more about Lechuguilla Cave: Exploration History, Geology, Filming, Fiction
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—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)