Today's tour of Northwest Oklahoma includes Alabaster Canyon State Park. It is the largest natural gypsum cave in the world that is open to the public. We saw frogs, salamanders and bats. The guide said the bats aren't seen very often. We took the first tour of the morning so that may have increased our odds. The main cavern extends 0.75 miles, is about 60 feet wide and 50 feet high. The cavern branches into boulder formations and smaller caves. A small stream flows through the cavern, fed by various lateral tunnels and seepage from the roof. In the geologic past, the river was once capable of completely filling the cavern, as the cave walls and gypsum formations show evidence of sculpting by rapidly flowing water. The gypsum is mostly in the form of alabaster. There are several types of alabaster found at the site, including pink, white, and the rare black alabaster. Selenite crystal formations are also found here. We took a guided tour, but the park also allows free caving by permit. . #alabastercaverns #okstatepark #caves #spelunking #salamander #travelok #oklahoma #myoklahoma #thisisoklahoma #oklahomaphotography #discoveroklahoma #onlyinoklahoma (at Alabaster Caverns State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRXO2eRBZ6U/?utm_medium=tumblr
