America’s ‘Lost Sea’ Would Not Be the Same Today if a 13-Year-Old Boy Had Not Accidentally Discovered It in 1905
Tennessee, for years, sits on a stunning lake with centuries worth of history. The caves linked to the underground lake, 'Lost Sea', were used by Cherokee Indians during the struggle of the 1820s and also by Confederate soldiers in the Civil War, stated CBS News. Today, the 140-feet-deep lake attracts thousands of tourists every year from all over the world.
Experts have determined the water body to be America's largest underground lake. The water body was discovered by a 13-year-old boy named Ben Sands. A tour guide, Savannah Dalton, shared that Sands crawled for around 40 feet through a tunnel to discover the lake. As per the boy, the water in the lake was knee-deep and much smaller than its present-day size. Since then, it has been blasted out to a massive size.
The second-largest non-subglacial underground lake in the world was spotted sometime in the early 20th century, according to Smart Water Magazine. The largest being Dragon's Breath Cave in Namibia. The water body is present inside the Craighead Caverns, a huge cave system in the Great Smoky Mountains. Experts estimate that the lake's surface is around 240 meters long and 67 meters wide.
Experts have noted that during times of extreme droughts, the lake recedes significantly. In the period between 2007 to 2008, the 'Lost Sea' reportedly receded 28 feet below the typical levels. People were supposedly able to see a much larger than normal cavern on the lake's surface at that time.
The lake and the cave system not only have worldwide appeal but also a local prominence, according to CBS News. Dalton shared that many of her previous generations played in the cave system. Hence, it is an intricate part of their personal history. "I was actually six years old the first time I came down here with my grandmother and older brother," Dalton said.
Tourists enjoy the lake by boat ferries. People can dip their fingers in the cold lake water and often get a glimpse of rainbow trout swimming in it. In total, there are around 300 rainbow trouts in the 'Lost Sea.' Dalton claimed that the trout have been inhabitants of the lake for a long time, judging by the eyesight and color they have supposedly lost. She further added that though nobody knows when the lake and cave system were created, it can be assumed they have been around for centuries. This assertion has been drawn based on the development of their features.
The ferry lasts for around 1 hour and 15 minutes and is a three-quarter-mile round-trip, according to The Lost Sea website. The tour guides provide the tourists with insights about the cave's 200,000-year-old history. Evidence of use by Confederate soldiers, Cherokee Indians, and a prehistoric jaguar are the main highlights of the trip.
Dalton claims that many visitors who come to the site are awestruck by its beauty, according to CBS News. Seeing the wondrous response has made the job an enjoyable experience for her, she added. "There's a rich history here," Dalton said. "And it's something that you don't get to see every day.