Moaning Cavern

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Moaning Cavern is a limestone cave located near Vallecito, California in the heart of the state's Gold Country. It was discovered in modern times by gold miners in 1851, but it has long been known as an interesting geological feature by prehistoric peoples. It gets its name from the moaning sound made by wind passing over the entrance. While the nearby California Caverns are the largest network of caves in California, Moaning Cavern is the largest single cave, tall and spacious enough inside to hold the Statue of Liberty. It is open to the public for walking tours, rappelling, and spelunking.

Moaning Cavern is also an archaeological site, where some of the oldest human remains known in America were discovered. The cave has long been the resting spot for the bodies of prehistoric people who fell into its opening. The bones were preserved by the mineral-rich water in the cave.