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Vallgornera Caves to be given Natural Heritage status
The Balearic Environment Ministry has declared that the Vallgornera cave system in the Llucmajor region is to be given natural heritgage status. The Ministry has stated that the 67 kilometre coastline cave system is one of the finest in Europe and has been earmarked as being of general European interest.
The Vallgornera caves were discovered in 1968. The collection of stalactites and stalagmites, lakes and galleries will continue to be explored and studied by geologists and ecologists.
Mallorca's geography has made it a mecca for cavers - there are over 4000 cave systems on the island. Ground water erosion of clay layers forces a collapse, to leave caverns lined with calcareous rock. Water containing calcium bicarbonate can leak through the cave ceiling, which eventually leads to the formation of stalactites. Further leakages form similar deposits and many varied structures can be formed over time.
