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The Ice
Cave is located south of Koleen and north of Doans. This cave in Southern
Greene County is unusual as ice remains in it throughout the year, even in
July and August. Although geologists say that such a cave in Indiana is
virtually impossible, the cave does exist.
The cave
is located on property owned by Mrs. Gayle Creager. A ridge runs across the
Creager property with a sinkhole, round in shape and recessed about 20 feet
down into the ground, located on it. Fallen rocks may be seen everywhere as
part of the cave fell-in several years ago. In the sinkhole, a smaller hole
serves as the entrance to the cave.
Beyond the entrance, the cave extends
back toward the main rock ledge A wonderland of frozen beauty greets a
visitor as ice coats the sides and floor of the cave. A number of large
stalactites of ice hang majestically from the ceiling The ice is crystal
clear and sparkles like a million diamonds.
The top of the cave is composed of loose sandstone and is quite hazardous
The cave extends for a considerable distance back into the hillside. Ice was
once extracted In large quantities during the summer months and used for
cooling purposes.
The
reason ice is found year round in the Ice Cave, while all the other Indiana
caves are ice free, is unknown. Ice caves are found in mountainous areas in
several places across the United States, but in these areas the average mean
of the annual temperatures is at or below freezing However, this is not the
case in Indiana where the temperature of a cave is usually 56 degrees, the
Ice Cave has to be at least 32 degrees. Ice caves function as natural
storage areas or cold air traps, but why only one Hoosier cave features this
phenomenon is a mystery.
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