St Michael s Caves Gibraltar

S t. Michael's Caves in            hand rails to assist them. It is   Gibraltar are situated some     still slippery underfoot though    300m above sea level on the     so be sure to wear good            southerly end of the Rock of          footware.The main Cathedral cave   Gibraltar. They are a marvellous      is an impressive site and during   sight with many truly impressive      the Second World War was adapted   stalagmites and stalactites. It       to be used as a military           has long been believed that the       hospital. However it was never     caves are bottomless which in         required as such and today is put  turn gave credence to the theory      to a more peaceful use when        that there was once a                 concerts are held there. The       subterranean link, about 15 miles     acoustics are wonderful.           long, between Gibraltar and                                              Africa and that it was through        The rest of the caves consist of   this that the Apes of Gibraltar,      various interconnecting            the only wild monkeys in Europe,      passageways with some really       found their way onto the Rock         impressive stalagmites and         many centuries ago. Certainly         stalagtites. At some point in      they have their counterparts          it's past one of these enormous    across the Mediterranean in           structures, unable any longer to   Africa and the only other             bear it's own weight, gave way     feasible explanation for their        and fell. In 1792 an inquisitive   appearance on mainland Europe is      person removed a section from the  that they were introduced by          it's top end and this has left     sailors who collected them on         the interior of the stalactite     their travels                         exposed, giving us a wonderful                                           insight into the secret history    The caves have been visited since     of these magnificent structures.   Roman times but today's visitor       It shows quite clearly in rings    has the benefit of footlights and     the history of it's growth, for    instance during periods of            top end of the Rock. The car will  excessive rain its growth is          take you to the top of the rock    indicated by light-brown rings        from where it is a pleasant        and patches and the darker areas      stroll down to St. Michael's       were formed during periods of         caves. This will also enable you   less rain. Perhaps the two thin       to take in the wonderful views of  lines of crumbly white substance      both the Atlantic and the          are the most interesting part of      Mediterranean and of course see    its structure as it is believed       many of the Gibraltar apes. On     that these represent glacial          leaving the caves you can then     periods.                              continue to walk down until you                                          reach the mid-way stage and pick   During the preparation of the         up the cable car again. For the    caves for a military hospital the     less energetic you can take a      blasting required to improve          trip in a taxi. The driver will    ventilation revealed a series of      also take you to meet the apes,    further caves and an underground      give you a potted history of the   lake. However these can only be       Rock of Gibraltar and wait for     visited with a guide by prior         you whilst you visit the caves.    arrangement.                                                                                                   Whichever way you decide to do it  One of the best ways to get up to     a visit to both St. Michael's      the caves is by cable car which       caves and to the apes is a very    operates from the car park at the     enjoyable excursion.               About the Author: Article submitted by Ruth Polak the owner of http://www.costadelsol-vacationrentals.com A web site specializing in holiday villas and apartments on the Costa del Sol and in Rural Andalucia. You will also find lots of information about Spain and Andalucia, in particular. Read more articles by: Ruth Polak Article Source: www.iSnare.com