Glowworm Caves

photo source unknown

The Glowworm Cave is located in Waitomo, New Zealand. In this cave, one can find a beautiful twinkling of lights when on the ceiling making the cave glow.   The lights are created by the glowworm or Arachnocampa Luminosa. Tours are offered daily to take visitor through the caves via boats.  In 1887,  the cave was explored by candle via rafts flowing downstream and shortly after opened for tourists.

It is believed that geologic and volcanic activity created the caves 30 million years ago.  The lime stones caves were formed when they were still under the ocean.  The limestone is composed of fossilized corals, shells, skeletons of fish and small marine organisms of the sea bed.  These eventually things eventually compressed and fossilized creating the limestone formations.  One can also find many stalactites and stalagmites in the cave formed from dripping water.  The glowworms also share the cave with fungi (including the cave flower), insects, albino cave ants and giant crickets.  The cave is closely monitored including air quality, temperature and humidity to assure the future and health of the cave.  It also determines how many people can visit each day.

 photo source grayline