Exploring JEWEL CAVE NATIONAL MONUMENT in the Black Hills of South Dakota

Jewel Cave is a vast cave system in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Jewel Cave is one of the longest in the world, with a labyrinth of over 220 miles of mapped passages. However, scientists believe that only 3 to 5 percent of the cave has been discovered. Air pressure studies suggest there could still be another 5,000 to 7,000 miles of passageways yet to be explored! Jewel cave was discovered in 1900, when brothers Frank and Albert Michaud felt a blast of chilly air coming from the ground. They were prospecting for gold in the Black Hills but found Jewel Cave instead. Jewel cave was named for its abundance of sparkling calcite crystal formations that line the passageways of the cave. President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Jewel Cave as a National Monument in 1908. The National Park Service offers different types of cave tours and reservations are highly recommended. We took the Scenic Tour, which lasts about 1.5 hours and involves climbing up and down over seven hundred stairs. The temperature inside the cave is a constant 49 degrees year-round, so be sure to dress appropriately. Please note that all visitors are required to wear completely enclosed shoes. Below are the chapters for this video: 0:00 Intro 1:06 Historic Area of Jewel Cave 5:41 Jewel Cave National Monument 6:50 Scenic Tour of Jewel Cave #blackhills #southdakota #caves Music by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/ Please be sure to like, comment and subscribe to our channel at:    / @blendedtravels