Nirvana and the Far East


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  1. The second arm of the cave discovered was accessed by Apricot Pit, over 300' of ropework down a sloping rift.

  2. Below the rift are a series of decorated chambers known collectively as Nirvana. This is the Emperor's Chamber.

  3. The Emperor formation.

  4. A large drapery in the Emperor's Chamber.

  5. The Orange Bowl is a dry pool basin.

  6. Not all the lakes in Nirvana are dry. This is the Lake of the Blue Giants, named for its large submerged stalagmites, up to 12' tall.

  7. Submerged stals in Lake of the Blue Giants, shot at a depth of about 20'. Note the encructed shelfstone on the left, indicating former pool levels.

  8. Diving in nearby Stud Lake turned up these unique subaqueous helictites, about 10' below the water's surface.

  9. After traveling through Nirvana and the Near East, a 200' ascent leads to the top of the Aragonitemare and the Far East.

  10. The top of the Aragonitemare, like much of the Far East, is well decorated.

  11. A major chamber in the Far East is the Land of Fire and Ice.

  12. Beyond Fire and Ice, a major trunk passage called Glacier Way leads to Grand Guadalupe camp.

  13. A side passage off Glacier Way leads to Bryce Canyon, where acidic waters have carved impressive rillenkarren.

  14. One of the most impressive aragonite bushes is found in the Far East. The "plate" is remarkably two dimensional and almost 2' high.

  15. Just beyond the Far East camp, a gypsum-lined passageare leads into dry pool basins.

  16. Button or "mushroom" coralloids with large hydromagnesite balloons, Far East.

  17. A rare form of "feathered" aragonite in the Far East

  18. Gypsum crystals in the Far East

  19. The Swinging Soda Straw Room in the Far East

  20. Shelfstone on a dry pool basin in Boundary Waters, Far East

 
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Created: November 10, 1995
Author: Dave Bunnell
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