Arnhem cave
| Arnhem cave
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| Location: | Namibia | |
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Geographic location: |
22 ° 42 '5.8 " S , 18 ° 5' 47.9" O | |
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| Discovery: | 1930 by Daniel Bekker | |
| Overall length: | 4500 m | |
| Particularities: | longest known cave in Namibia | |
The Arnhem Cave ( English Arnhem Cave ), in the Namibian region of Khomas 120 km east of Windhoek , was discovered in 1930 by a resident of European descent, Daniel Bekker. He then owned the land there and in 1932 began to exploit large quantities of bat guano that were in the cave . From around 1940 onwards, dismantling was no longer worthwhile. The cave has been open to the public since 1994.
The length of the cave is around 4.5 km, making it the longest known cave in Namibia . In the entrance area it is 45 m wide. From the entrance depths of up to 100 meters are reached. The temperature in the cave is around 22 to 25 ° C and the average humidity is 97%.
The cave lies in the limestone and dolomite horizon . There are thin quartzite and slate layers . It also contains the minerals arcanite , archerite , cristobalite , dittmarite , mundrabillaite , quartz and swaknoite . Little is known geologically about the origin of the cave. It is believed that limestones have loosened and caused the quartzite and slate layers to collapse. This formed the tunnels and domes of the cave complex.
Five bat species have been identified in the cave:
- Hipposideros commersoni
- Hipposideros caffer
- Miniopterus schrelbersii
- Nycteris thebaica
- Rhinolophus denti
Individual evidence
- ↑ Experience bats up close. Allgemeine Zeitung, November 1, 2012, including further, partly different information, accessed on July 7, 2015
- ↑ Arnhem Cave. Mineral Atlas, accessed August 1, 2015 .