Mammoth Cave National Park

Lore & Background

The Green River runs through the park, with the Nolin River feeding into it just inside the park boundaries. The park was established after contentious eminent domain proceedings whose consequences still affect the region.

Reader's Guide

Mammoth Cave National Park preserves and interprets the longest known cave system in the world, along with its diverse forested karst landscape, rivers, and evidence of human history spanning at least five thousand years. The park offers various cave tours, including electric-lit routes and paraffin lamp tours, as well as 'wild' tours through undeveloped passages. The Echo River Tour, a famous boat ride along an underground river, was discontinued in the early 1990s. Archaeological research, notably by Patty Jo Watson beginning in the late 1950s, has illuminated the lives of ancient peoples who explored and exploited the caves. The park's mission includes providing public enjoyment, recreation, and understanding while protecting its internationally recognized features.

Did You Know?

• The cave system is over 1.5 times longer than the second-longest cave system, Mexico's Ox bel ha underwater cave.
• The upper sandstone caprock makes many older, upper passages very dry, with no stalactites or stalagmites.
• Cedar Sink is a massive sinkhole in the southern region of the park where a small river enters one side and disappears underground at the other.