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Caves

Must-See Lobster Tails in a Cave

December 20, 2006 at 11:00 AM | 0 Comments

This week Down Under, the Jenolan Caves Trust near Sydney has re-opened the Nettle Cave, and is offering a self-guided tour. They locked up this cave three-quarters of a century ago, for reasons they can't bring themselves to tell us (we're worried that it's because it wasn't interesting enough for visitors). But as of last Monday, you can use the new pathways, boardwalks and railings to see this old, old cave for yourself.

The big attractions here are the stromatolites, ancient life-forms shaped like the tail of a crayfish or lobster. Wanna know where they come from? Helpful tourist information from the good people at Jenolan tells us:

They are formed by colonies of cyanobacteria bonded with layers of calcite crystal.

All clear now? Looks like they'd make great 3D alternatives to an inkblot test, too.

[Photo: zodmczod]

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