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Mammoth Cave National Park
Northeast of Bowling Green, northwest of Park City and 10 miles west of Cave City via SR 70, Mammoth Cave National Park occupies 52,830 acres. Much of the park is in its natural state, providing shelter to a large variety of birds and other wildlife.
A tributary of the Ohio River, the scenic Green River traverses this well-forested, rugged terrain for 24 miles. More than 70 miles of back-country trails, which can be used for horseback riding or hiking, run along the river's bluffs, ridges and valleys. Biking trails also are available. In the northwestern section of the park is the 7-mile-long Nolin River. Several scenic driving tour routes wind through the park.
Within the park is Mammoth Cave, which has yielded archeological evidence of humans approximately 4,000 years ago. During the War of 1812 the cave furnished saltpeter used to manufacture gunpowder.
Mammoth Cave contains more than 365 miles of underground passages charted on five levels. Said to be the longest cave system known, it was hollowed out by the seepage of ground water and the flow of underground streams. The cave contains diverse passageways, some of which contain remnants of 4,000-year-old stick cane torches, petroglyphs that date back thousands of years and names written on the cave walls by guides during the 19th century using candle smoke.
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