Caving Arizona - Cave of the Bells
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The Cave of the Bells is a fascinating and fragile underground wilderness. Though this subterranean gallery of rock -- known for its unique and varied suite of minerals and formations -- has been thousands of years forming, it is nevertheless extremely fragile. A few moments of thoughtlessness here could cause irreversible damage. For that reason, and because so many similar areas have been damaged by vandalism, the Cave of the Bells is locked and gated. For a small deposit, keys are available at the Nogales Ranger District, or in Tucson at the Coronado National Forest Supervisor's Office, 300 West Congress, Tucson, AZ 85701, (520) 281-2296. A $25.00, refundable deposit is required.
Lake Tunnel, one of its most notable and accessible passages, leads through a large room to a permanent lake far underground. The lake is a total of 80 meters below the entrance level. Visitors to this area note an unusual temperature gradient. Instead of getting cooler as the cave gets deeper, the temperature becomes noticeable warmer. The lake itself has been measured at 76 degrees Fahrenheit, nine degrees warmer than the air at the entrance.
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