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Carlsbad, New Mexico

What is this? Is it the eye of the beast? It's looking at me, thinking about what a tasty morsel I'll soon make? Oh, wait, the eye isn't an eye at all, it's just the cave entrance, or is it?

Natural lighting slowly gives way to artificial lighting. Fortunately for the visitor, the footpath is constructed with a solid paved surface and bordered with sturdy handrails. Take note of the second picture, down this dark, dead-end cooridor you'll find hordes of bats during the warm weather months. The footpath descends to the front stage of this bat niche, but, soon turns away and travels in the opposite direction.

Nearby I find a placard describing how the cave was formed as well as another containing informaiton about the primary inhabitants, the cave bats.

It is here the last bit of natural lighting falls through the cave entrance located directly above. From here on out it's all artificial. The air is still now and as I descend, I notice it's getting colder and colder. It's completely quiet as I push along, I'm so glad to be touring the cave during the off-season.

This is the first interesting formation I encounter. They are at arm's length, but of course, I don't touch them, the cave's formations are very fragile structures.