The Nakimu Caves, Glacier Dominion Park, B. C.Canada. National Parks Branch
Science
The Nakimu Caves, Glacier Dominion Park, B. C.
Canada. National Parks Branch
Nakimu Caves (B.C.)
“Near the centre of the western wall, a narrow gap leads to a very
beautiful, though small, chamber named ‘The White Grotto’ by W. S.
Ayres. The carbonate decorations here are of great beauty and delicacy.
The passage in which the chamber is found is 40 feet long, 15 feet wide
and 10 feet high. The final cave has been named the ‘Bridal Chamber’ by
W. S. Ayres, owing to the purity of its lime draperies and the general
beauty of its floral decorations. It is small, and beyond this point
exploration has not yet been carried. The passage breaks off in a
precipice falling to a deep chasm, at the bottom of which a subterranean
stream, probably Cougar creek, may be heard.
“This is the farthest point to which the present survey has been
carried. It is 240 feet from the Wind crack, previously referred to as
being seen on the way up the valley, and is only 54 feet above it; it is
safe to assume that there is a connection between. The wind issuing from
the crack is probably due to a water blast caused by the subterranean
stream falling into the chasm at the end of the exploration.
“There are two other passages, or rather sets of passages, that have not
yet been mentioned, viz.: ‘The Ice Cave,’ situated above the deep
entrance from the Gorge. It is reached from the valley floor and is not
of large dimensions, presenting only one chamber of any size, which has
been christened ‘The Temple.’ The series has been named the Ice Cave
from the fact that the initial passage entrance is blocked by ice all
the year round, and an entry is effected over this blockage.
“The second set of passages are entered immediately below the Goat
falls, which pour into them until late in October, when they become
ice-bound. Last October, the writer followed two of the passages—one for
about 150 feet, the other for about 50 feet—but could get no farther
without material for bridging. The formation resembles the passage
leading to the Auditorium, but on a smaller scale, viz., a series of
well formed potholes connected one with the other. It is assumed that
the flow from the Goat falls, the big bulk of which passes through these
two channels, empties into the main waterway at the Turbine, but its
course may possibly be more direct. If it does not, however, it is
difficult to know where the water flowing in at the Turbine comes from.
“It is still something more than half a mile from the end of the present
exploration to the final point at which the subterranean waters of
Cougar creek are returned to the surface bed. There may consequently be
accessible passageways that are yet undiscovered but, as the surface
grade over this unknown interior is much steeper and the subterranean
creek bed is approaching the surface, it seems probable that, if
existing, they will be found inaccessible.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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