Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
m Reverting possible vandalism by 169.204.189.71 to version by Bleakcomb. False positive? Report it. Thanks, ClueBot. (635427) (Bot) |
←Replaced content with 'go f*ck yourselves' |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
go f*ck yourselves |
|||
{{Infobox_protected_area | name = Oregon Caves National Monument |
|||
| iucn_category = III |
|||
| image = US_Locator_Blank.svg |
|||
| caption = |
|||
| locator_x = 16 |
|||
| locator_y = 42 |
|||
| location = [[Josephine County, Oregon]], [[United States|USA]] |
|||
| nearest_city = [[Cave Junction, Oregon|Cave Junction, OR]] |
|||
| lat_degrees = 42 |
|||
| lat_minutes = 05 |
|||
| lat_seconds = 53 |
|||
| lat_direction = N |
|||
| long_degrees = 123 |
|||
| long_minutes = 24 |
|||
| long_seconds = 26 |
|||
| long_direction = W |
|||
| area = {{convert|488|acres}} |
|||
| established = [[July 12]], [[1909]] |
|||
| visitation_num = 84,465 |
|||
| visitation_year = 2004 |
|||
| governing_body = [[National Park Service]] |
|||
}} |
|||
<!-- Note: site is listed in IUCN database, and appears to conform with Category III --> |
|||
'''Oregon Caves National Monument''' is a [[United States National Monument|national monument]] in the northern [[Siskiyou Mountains]] of southwestern [[Oregon]] in the [[United States]]. Known primarily for its [[marble]] [[cave]]s, the {{convert|488|acres|adj=on}} park is located in southeastern [[Josephine County, Oregon|Josephine County]] approximately {{convert|24|mi}} as the crow flies south of [[Grants Pass, Oregon|Grants Pass]] or a {{convert|48|mi|adj=on}} drive from Grants Pass, including a {{convert|19|mi|adj=on}} drive east of Cave Junction on Oregon Caves Highway state route 46. |
|||
==Description== |
|||
In 1874, while a local man named Elijah Davidson was hunting, his dog Bruno chased a bear into a cave. He lasted only several minutes in the cave, with his seven matches. After they all burnt out though, he had to jump down into the chest-high creek and follow it out. It took him seven hours to escape the cave. This discovery became an attraction, and in the 1890s developers opened the caves as a commercial enterprise. In 1909, at the urging of [[Joaquin Miller]] and other influential men, [[William Howard Taft|President William Howard Taft]] declared the caves a [[U.S. National Monument]]. The Monument was managed by the [[U.S. Forest Service]] until [[August 10]], [[1933]], when jurisdiction was transferred to the [[National Park Service]]. |
|||
The {{convert|3.5|mi|adj=on}} marble cave in the Monument contains 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]] [[fossil]]s found in some of the deeper chambers. The National Park Service provides cave tours for a fee (as of December 2008, it was $8.50, age 16 and under $6, groups of 12 or more $6 adults and $4 for 16s and under). Tours last up to 90 minutes, and temperatures inside the caves are {{convert|44|F}} all year round, regardless of outdoor temperature. Open March 21 to November 29, closed Thanksgiving Day. Also, you must be taller than {{convert|42|in|cm}} to attend a cave tour. [http://www.nps.gov/orca/planyourvisit/things2know.htm] |
|||
Above ground, the monument encompasses a remnant [[old growth|old-growth]] [[conifer]]ous forest. It harbors a fantastic array of plants, including a [[Douglas fir]] tree with the widest known girth in Oregon at {{convert|13|ft}} in diameter. Four hiking trails access this forest. The park also features a [[Civilian Conservation Corps]]-built landscape, as well as a historic lodge known as the [[Oregon Caves Chateau|Chateau]], in which visitors can stay. |
|||
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 {{convert|50|in}} of rain per year. The elevation at the Visitor Center is {{convert|4000|ft}} and resulting in comfortable summer temperatures and snowy winters. The park is situated high in the watershed of the [[Illinois River (Oregon)|Illinois River]], a tributary of the [[Rogue River (Oregon)|Rogue River]] that is a major [[salmon]] and [[rainbow trout|steelhead]] spawning waterway. |
|||
==Historic buildings== |
|||
In addition to the caves, the Oregon Caves National Monument is home to several historic buildings. There are four primary historic buildings of interest at the Oregon Caves National Monument: The [[Oregon Caves Chateau]] (1934), The Ranger Residence (1936?), The (new) Chalet (1942), and the old employee Dormitory (1927, with major additions in 1940 and 1972).<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/archive/orca/clr/clr.htm] Cultural Landscape Report, By Cathy Gilbert and Marsha Tolon, National Park Service.</ref> The most noteworthy of these is Oregon Caves Chateau, a historic lodging facility that opened in 1934. It is the location of the guest services at the monument, including a coffee shop, dining, gift shop and overnight lodging. The Chateau is considered one of the best of the classic lodges found in the National Parks. It is in almost original condition, having seen few modifications over the years. |
|||
The Chateau was designed and built by Gust Lium (1884-1965), a local contractor. A [[National Historic Landmark]], the Chateau building is architecturally significant due to the construction and design.<ref name="HABS">Historic American Buildings Survey, Oregon Caves Chateau. HABS No. OR-145, prepared by Stephen R. Mark, Historian, NPS, Aug. 25, 1989.</ref> The Chateau is designed in the [[National Park Service Rustic|rustic style]] common to many National Parks. |
|||
==Gallery== |
|||
<gallery> |
|||
Image:Millers Chapel.JPG|Miller's Chapel, the site of the biggest stalactites and stalagmites in the cave |
|||
Image:Orca banana grove drapery.JPG|Banana Grove flowstone |
|||
Image:OregonCavesNM-HAER.png|[[Historic American Buildings Survey|HABS]] description |
|||
Image:OregonCavesNM-HEAR.png|Diagram of caves |
|||
Image:Chateau-Oregon-Caves-1.jpg|The Chateau at Oregon Caves |
|||
</gallery> |
|||
==References== |
|||
<references/> |
|||
==External links== |
|||
{{commonscat|Oregon Caves National Monument}} |
|||
*[http://www.nps.gov/orca/ Oregon Caves National Monument] — Official U.S. National Park Service Web Site |
|||
{{Protected Areas of Oregon}} |
|||
{{Registered Historic Places}} |
|||
[[Category:National Monuments in Oregon]] |
|||
[[Category:1909 establishments]] |
|||
[[Category:Josephine County, Oregon]] |
|||
[[Category:Caves of Oregon]] |
|||
[[Category:Show caves]] |
|||
[[Category:Limestone caves]] |
|||
[[Category:Civilian Conservation Corps in Oregon]] |
|||
[[de:Oregon Caves National Monument]] |
|||
[[fr:Cavernes de l'Oregon]] |
|||
[[pl:Oregon Caves National Monument]] |
|||
[[sv:Oregon Caves nationalmonument]] |
|||
Revision as of 17:34, 17 March 2009
go f*ck yourselves