Shelta Cave is a cave and lake located in Huntsville,

Madison County, Alabama Madison County is a County (United States), county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 Census, the population was 388,153, and according to a 2023 population estimate the ...

, United States. It is described as one of the most bio-diverse caves within the

Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, are a mountain range in eastern to northeastern North America. The term "Appalachian" refers to several different regions associated with the mountain range, and its surrounding terrain ...

. The cave is currently owned and managed as a

nature preserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, funga, or features of geolog ...

by the National Speleological Society, with their main offices directly above the cave. It was declared a

National Natural Landmark The National Natural Landmarks (NNL) Program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only national natural areas program that identifies and recognizes the best e ...

in October 1972.

History

This cave was an underground bar and dance hall in the early 1900s.

Speleology and wildlife

The cave is open to members of the NSS during certain times of the year to minimize the impact on the

biome A biome () is a distinct geographical region with specific climate, vegetation, and animal life. It consists of a biological community that has formed in response to its physical environment and regional climate. In 1935, Tansley added the ...

. There are now three sinkhole entrances. The lake can be as large as during the winter and early spring rainy season. Other times of the year, the lake bed is exposed. There are nine species which were first discovered in this cave. The Shelta Cave crayfish is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to the cave.

Rediscovery

In May 2022, biologists led by Dr. Matthew L. Niemiller reported the rediscovery of the Shelta Cave crayfish (''Orconectes sheltae'') at Shelta Cave for the first time since 1988. They announced that 20 cave crayfish were discovered during 12 of 20 surveys between October 2018 and July 2021. Two of them were identified as ''Orconectes sheltae''. The study demonstrated that the species is not yet extinct as past authors had assumed.

References

External links

Shelta Cave Nature Preserve
Caves of Alabama Geography of Huntsville, Alabama National Natural Landmarks in Alabama Protected areas of Madison County, Alabama Nature reserves in Alabama Landforms of Madison County, Alabama {{MadisonCountyAL-geo-stub