Historic Caves of Tennessee Subject for TWRA May's Nature @ Noontime
Monday, May 04, 2009 | 04:07am
NASHVILLE --- Historic Caves of Tennessee is the subject for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s Nature @ Noontime program on Thursday, May 7, from 12-1 p.m. Hosted by TWRA’s Information & Education Division, the program is held the first Thursday of each month with the exception of July.
With more than 9,200 documented caves, Tennessee has more caves than any other state in the United States. They range in size and there is even one 34 miles long, at least that’s as far as it has been mapped. Many are also full of history and possess natural beauty.
Several of the larger historic caves have received the attention of Larry Matthews, a devoted spelunker (cave explorer) who also works with the State Department of Environment and Conservation, Ground Water Protection Division. Since his earlier Nature @ Noontime presentation in 2005 about DunbarCave, Matthews has written three more books about Tennessee caves. As the next presenter, he will review his books and show accompanying pictures of the caves of which he has written.
His new books include Big Bone Cave (2006) which chronicles the history of one of the largest and most historic caves in Tennessee. Now owned by the State of Tennessee, it once housed North America’s largest underground saltpeter mine, the main ingredient of gunpowder. Three giant sloth skeletons, an ice-age jaguar skeleton, and several Native American mummies have been discovered there.
Caves of Chattanooga (2007) gives the history of nine caves in the greater Chattanooga area that are either currently open as commercial caves, or which have been commercial caves in the past. The Chattanooga caves were used by Native Americans beginning 8,000 years ago.
Matthews will focus on his most recent book, Caves of Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains (2008), which chronicles the history of 14 caves in the area stretching from the Lost Sea on the southern end of the Smokies all the way up to Cumberland Gap and Bristol, on the northern end. Matthews will discuss the story of the Lost Sea, the largest underground lake in North America and how Gap Cave was discovered in 1750 by Thomas Walker, guardian of young Thomas Jefferson.
Matthew’s books will be available for purchase at the program or can be found on www.Amazon.com.
The Nature @ Noontime presentations are about natural resource related topics and last about 30-45 minutes, allowing time for discussion during the allotted lunch hour. For those who would like to make a presentation, or have topics of personal interest to be addressed, or know someone who offers an interesting program, contact Patricia Miller (615-781-5276) or by e-mail: Patricia.Miller@state.tn.us.
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