After the Permian Period, most of the water evaporated and the reef was buried by evaporites and other sediments. Unlike modern reef growths, the Permian reef contained bryozoans, sponges, and other microorganisms. Present in the sea was a plethora of marine life, whose remains formed a reef. Capitan Reef Īn estimated 250 million years ago, the area surrounding Carlsbad Caverns National Park served as the coastline for an inland sea.

Geology įor details on the region's geology, see Delaware Basin. According to The Travel, it is renowned globally for being 'one of the most accessible and best-preserved cave complexes in the world'. In 1930, Carlsbad Caverns was established as a national park and was also recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1995. The Big Room is the largest chamber in North America and the 32nd largest in the world.

Approximately two-thirds of the park has been set aside as a wilderness area, helping to ensure no future changes will be made to the habitat.Ĭarlsbad Cavern includes a large limestone chamber, named simply the Big Room, which is almost 4,000 ft (1,220 m) long, 625 ft (191 m) wide, and 255 ft (78 m) high at its highest point. The park has two entries on the National Register of Historic Places: The Caverns Historic District and the Rattlesnake Springs Historic District. The park entrance is located on US Highway 62/ 180, approximately 18 miles (29 km) southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico. Visitors to the cave can hike in on their own via the natural entrance or take an elevator from the visitor center. The primary attraction of the park is the show cave Carlsbad Cavern.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is an American national park in the Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico.

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