On the western side of Santa Cruz Island (click/tap to enlarge),
in Channel Islands National Park,
off the coast of Southern California,
you will find,
the fourth largest sea cave in the world.
The cave extends for a quarter mile under the basalt cliffs of Santa Cruz Island.
You can enter and explore the cave by boat.
It’s vibrant colors are created by lichen growing on the cave walls.
I saw similar caves in Isla Ballestas in Peru, but the colors in the Peruvian caves were formed by strata in the rock and there was more natural light to see inside:
Islas Ballestas~
Cheers to you from the world’s fascinating ‘Off the Beaten Path’ Sea Caves~
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Thank you sincerely Sharon & take good care my friend დ
The peace and quiet of those out of the way places we love so much!
They are always a thrill
Yes indeed. The less traveled places are the best spaces დ
They certainly are!
დდ
Wow! Amazing! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you more for appreciating! დ
Breathtaking photography, Cindy! I didn’t know about the painted caves. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful post.
You are very welcome. I am happy you enjoyed them & cheers to you both დ
Such a colorful cave, Cindy. I pretty claustrophobic but I’d be tempted to go in there too.
I hear you. I am no spelunker დ
I’ve always been fascinated by caves, as long as I know I can get out easily.
Exactly დ
Kerplunk! Spelunk.
Smiling…..დ
That must have been so much fun. Great shots.
It was wonderful fun and quite interesting დ
Wow these are beautiful shots!
Thank you! Much appreciated & cheers დ
Absolutely beautiful!! But I am afraid I could never go in those caves. I get a little claustrophobic just thinking about it! But amazing!
How fabulous! Isn’t nature amazing!
Alison
Yes indeed. Our Mother always awes! დ
What incredible colours. We thought they might be caused by iron but no. If it is basalt does that mean this is the result of volcanic activity.
You are correct that basalt is extrusive igneous rock created when lava cools rapidly on the surface. Basalt does have some color, but not as much mineral color as you see in the cave strata from Peru. The color in the caves on Santa Cruz Island come from Lichen growing on the surface of the cave walls დ
😯Magical!
Merci beaucoup mon Ami დ
Thanks for sharing these gorgeous caves with spectacular colors of time. <3
That’s a neat spot. I was thinking minerals up front, but lichens make more sense.
The cave strata in Peru is definitely mineral and you can see the difference დ
Wow.
Smiling დდ
Fascinating. I love the differently-hued lichen.
Isn’t is a fascinating effect! Happy you enjoyed დ
What amazing colors in these caves!
Amazing clicks…great to know about this place
Much appreciated. Thanks very much დ
Stunning! I’m adding this to my list of places to visit.
Yay! Can’t wait to hear your impressions. Thanks much & take good care დ
The natural beauty of the caves is wonderful, those walls remind me of the graffiti painted tunnels near London Waterloo railway station 🚉 😀
Now I want to see the tunnels! I have been there, but did not see this. დ
They are a bit off the beaten track! 😉 But easy to find once you know where you’re going! That said, they are a bit smelly 🤣 too – graffiti artists 🎨 are regularly at work in them so the view changes all the time, but the graffiti paint they use creates a smelly 😉 odour that really is best dealt with by the use of a gas mask!!😷 Great place for photography though 🤩
Wow. Sounds like looking at photos might be better! 😉 😉
I love the different colours and textures in the rock. And I bet the lichens adds even more to the beauty.
Yes! Thanks much. The lichen is fluorescent and glows with awesome colors in the dark cave დ