Mussard Cave – A Well-known Mountain Caves of Reunion island
The Mussard cave is the most well-known mountain caves of Reunion island. You can visit this natural monument by yourself, but you must know that it’s quite big! This is why we advise you to do some sport before visiting Mussard cave.
The Mussard Cave has its name from the chief of La Chèvre mount in the 18th century. Mussard made a hole in this mountain to take out the debris from his excavations and allow access to hunters, lost in Mussard mount.
But Mussard need a way to pass under the rocks when he was coming back.. The hole is opened, has been covered with debris. It will be reopened after some time by Mussard, when it will be completed.
In 1876, the Mussard cave was cited in newspaper “La Montagne“.
The Mussard cave is a karst cave which has been forming under water during three or four million years. It is located on Mussard mount, of about 569 meters high. Mussard cave is the biggest natural mountain cave of Reunion island, and one of the thirty largest caves in France. It is about 5 kilometers long.
Entry to Mussard Cave: since 1933 Mussard cave is opened for visitors and can be visited by foot, on a walking path which allows you to discover this beautiful place. Mussard Cave is a natural monument of Reunion Island, which presents many rainforest touristic features.
In Mussard Cave, the limestone rocks were formed from sedimentation of sand and shells more than one million years ago. Mussard cave is specially known for its beautiful formations on the roof of the cave. You can visit Mussard Cave by yourself or with a guide. Mussard Cave is also the place where the greatest number in Reunion Island bat species have been counted.
Since Mussard cave is far in the mountain, it’s better to take some sport before visiting Mussard cave ! Mussard cave can be reached by car or on foot. You can park your car near Mussard cave, this is possible at Mussard grande cascade. Mussard cave is also close to Mussard waterfall. You can go to Mussard waterfall by foot or with a 4×4 car.
Mussard cave has been the subject of several studies on speleology and particularly concerning its fauna. Mussard Cave presents many features that make it one of the highlights of Reunion Island landscapes. Mussard cave has many speleothems that are very beautiful, such as stalactites, stalagmites or helictites.
At Mussard Cave there are small animals like bats and crabs living in their habitat created through rock erosion by water over time. Mussard cave hosts twelve species of bats. Mussard cave has been subject to studies on speleology and particularly those concerning its fauna. Mussard Cave presents many features that make it one of the highlights of Reunion Island landscapes. Mussard cave has many speleothems which are very interesting, such as stalactites, stalagmites or helictites. Mussard Cave is classified as a natural monument of Reunion Island, with many features that make it one of the most outstanding landscapes in the island.
At Mussard cave you can see helictites among other things. These are small mineral rods which form curls when they are connected by calcite prisms with similar forms. Mussard Cave hosts twelve species of bats and Mussard cave is classified as a natural monument. Mussard Cave has been the subject of several studies on speleology and particularly those concerning its fauna. Mussard cave can be visited by yourself or with a guide. Mussard cave is also known for its beautiful formations on the roof of the cave.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mussard Cave
What makes Mussard cave so special?
Mussard cave is special because it’s the largest cave in the world by volume. It’s located in the French Pyrenees, and it has more than 1,500 miles of passageways.
The cave was discovered in 1857 by a group of spelunkers, and ever since then, it’s been a popular tourist destination. Visitors can explore its vast chambers and formations, including the Crystal Palace, an enormous cavern filled with delicate crystals.
How long has the Mussard cave existed for?
The Mussard cave has been around for over 10,000 years! It’s an incredible natural formation that has withstood the test of time. Located in southwestern France, the cave was originally inhabited by prehistoric humans and is now a popular tourist attraction.
Do you have any side quests that people can do while visiting the Mussard cave?
There are a few side quests that people can do while visiting the Mussard cave.
One of the side quests is to find all of the hidden coins in the cave. There are 10 coins in total, and they are hidden in different locations throughout the cave.
Another side quest is to find all of the ancient artifacts hidden in the cave. There are 15 artifacts in total, and they are also hidden in different locations throughout the cave.
Finally, another side quest is to solve all of the puzzles located in the cave. There are five puzzles in total, and they can be quite challenging to solve.
Image Information: By Eric Gaba (Sting – fr:Sting) – Own workShorelines: NASA SWBD (public domain)., CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
