Oregon Caves National Monument
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| Oregon Caves | |
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Missing image LocMap_Oregon_Caves.png image:LocMap_Oregon_Caves.png | |
| Designation | National Monument |
| Location | Oregon |
| Nearest City | Cave Junction, Oregon |
| Coordinates | Template:Coor dms |
| Area | 480 acres 194 ha |
| Date of Establishment | 1909 |
| Visitation | 84,465 (2004) |
| Governing Body | National Park Service |
| IUCN category | III (Natural Monument) |
Oregon Caves National Monument is a national monument in the northern Siskiyou Mountains of southwestern Oregon in the United States. Known primarily for its marble caverns, the park located in southeastern Josephine County approximately 30 mi (48 km) south of Grants Pass. Although it is only about 488 acres (1.97 km²), it is diverse.
Description
The 3.5 mi (5.6 km) of marble caverns in the park contain one of the largest assemblages of endemic cave dwelling insects in the United States. Recently they have gained notoriety for the Pleistocene jaguar and grizzly bear fossils found in some of the deeper chambers. The park service provides cave tours for a fee.
Above ground, the monument encompasses a remnant old-growth coniferous forest. It harbors a fantastic array of plants, including Douglas fir tree with the widest known girth in Oregon. Four hiking trails access this forest. The park also features a historic lodge.
The region represents a unique geology composed primarily of bits and pieces of ocean crustal rocks (ophiolite). Some geologic sections are composed entirely of serpentine rock and soils which support many unique plant species. It is this unique soil that makes the northern Siskiyou Mountains well known for their botanical diversity and assemblages of endemic plants.
The climate of the region is strongly influenced by the Pacific Ocean which contributes to relatively mild summers and winters as well as 50 inches of rain per year. The elevation at the Visitor Center is 4,000 feet and resulting in comfortable summer temperatures and snowy winters. The park is situated high in the watershed of the Illinois River, a tributary of the Rogue River that is a major salmon and steelhead spawning waterway.
External link
- Oregon Caves National Monument (http://www.nationalparksgallery.com/parks/Oregon-Caves-National-Monument) - National Parks Gallery