An awe-inspiring discovery at New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns National Park revealed a network of “virgin” cave passages and an untouched pool 700 feet below the surface. This finding adds to the mystique of Lechuguilla Cave, one of the ten longest caves in the world.

Lechuguilla Caves’ Special Discovery

In May 2000, geoscientist Max Wisshak led an expedition that mapped out 1.3 miles of passages. They discovered an immaculate pool surrounded by white frosted rock on one journey. Wisshak dubbed the water “crystal clear” because of its isolation from human intervention.   

However, Wisshak’s image shows what looks like the white edges of a yogurt canister. The substance is shelfstone, a calcite composition prevalent in locations within Carlsbad Cavern, and forms common cave structures such as stalactites and stalagmites.

“Exploration in caves sometimes yields wondrous sights,” wrote Wisshak on Facebook.  “This cave pool, found in Lechuguilla Cave, appears to be completely pristine. The edges beneath this pool appear to be ‘pool fingers’, which could be bacterial colonies that have evolved entirely without human presence.”

He insists that the creaminess is the result of an optical illusion. 

The dimensions of the pool are roughly a foot across, two feet in length, and a depth of a few inches, as described by experts. The origin of the water is presumed to be rainfall that penetrated the overlying limestone layer, trickling down the cave walls into the pool’s basin.

Added Rodney Horrocks, Carlsbad Caverns’ Natural and Cultural Resources head, “This pool has been isolated for hundreds of thousands of years and had never seen light before that day.” 

What took researchers so long to explore Lechuguilla Caves’ virgin pools?

In 1993, explorers discovered the “virgin” passages — coining the largest one, “Lake of Liquid Sky,” but the area remained untouched and unexplored until October 2000. 

Only then did adventurers and researchers take the initiative to delve into these hidden passages, unlocking the mysteries within more “virgin” cave pools. 

This exploration also opens a new chapter into the microbial organisms that only exist in the Lechuguilla Caves. These microbe species evolved entirely without human presence, providing insights into modern antibiotic resistance.

The Lechuguilla Cave discovery, one of 118 known caves at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, opens doors to further scientific exploration and understanding of our planet’s hidden gems. 

More about Lechuguilla Cave 

Lechuguilla Cave lies in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, USA, and stands as one of the world’s largest and deepest limestone cave systems. Despite its renown for extraordinary crystal formations and shelfstone deposits, the cave is not open to the general public.

Unique pools, such as the “Lake of Liquid Sky,” host significant microbiological discoveries within the cave. Researchers and spelunkers continue to explore the cave’s complexity and unexplored regions, contributing valuable insights to geology and biosciences.

Lechuguilla Cave’s special discoveries

Date	Expedition Leader	Discovery	Unique Characteristics
May 2000	Max Wisshak	Virgin Cave Pool	Immaculate pool, crystal clear water, white frosted rock
1993	N/A	“Lake of Liquid Sky”	Virgin passages remained untouched until 2000
Ongoing	Various	Microbial organisms	Microbes that evolved without human presence, insights into antibiotic resistance