Deep beneath an unassuming recess of Tennessee , you could find America ’s “ Lost Sea ” : the largest non - subglacial underground lake in the US , and belike the second largest in the Earth . establish in the Craighead Caverns , this colossal body of underground water is so large that no one ’s really sure how crowing it is .
It ’s located amidst the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee between Sweetwater and Madisonville . Along with maintain a immense amount of water , the cavern is known for the raiment of crystals , stalagmite , and stalactites that grace its limestone wall .
The cave system hasa long historyand is considered a National Natural Landmark by theNational Park Service .
Long before humans were here , there ’s grounds that the cave was once stalked by terrible ( albeit very lost ) giant Pleistocene jaguars . Centuries afterwards , it was used by the Cherokee as a shelter , as shown by the many Native American artifacts – including clayware , arrowheads , artillery , and jewelry – identify here .
In more late century , early European colonist to store potatoes here . and the cave was later mine by Confederate soldier for saltpeter to make gunpowder . Moonshiners are also say to have hidden their illegal hooch supplies in the cave during the Prohibition Era .
However , the “ lost lake ” was discovered in 1905 when a tyke stumble across the water while playing in the cave .
" The lake was discovered by Ben Sands , " Tour guide Savannah Dalton toldCBS Newsin 2019 . " A 13 - class - old male child who had really crawled through a tunnel that was the size of it of a bicycle tire for 40 foot before he dropped down into the lake itself and actually pack out into about knee - deep water . It was a lot smaller when he came through . But we ’ve blasted it out since . "
As for the size of this matter , no one is quite sure . The seeable helping of the lake is 243 meters ( 800 feet ) long by 67 time ( 220 feet ) astray , but beneath the aerofoil , it leads into other huge lobby take with water – many of which are yet to be explored .
Over 13 acre ( 5.2 hectares ) of water system have been mapped so far , although explorers have still not see the death of the lake . One diver swam through the lake ’s pitch black waters cave armed with a sonar equipment and was forced to turn around since they could detect nothing but water all around them .
So , while the Lost Sea is said to be the second largest non - subglacial underground lake – beaten only by the Dragon ’s Breath Cave in Namibia – who ’s to fuck whether this mysterious cavern could be the honest record holder ?
[ H / TNewsbreak ]
