Guadalupe Escarpment (as seen from highway between Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park), consisting of Upper Permian reefal and perireefal limestones.
Carlsbad Caverns (aka Carlsbad Cavern) in southeastern New Mexico, USA, is one of the world's most spectacular caves. The speleothem is abundant, large-scale, and magnificent. It has one of the largest cave rooms anywhere on Earth (the Big Room - 14 acres in size & 370' maximum height). Unlike many tourist-accessible caves, much of Carlsbad Caverns is self-guided. On top of all that, the geologic origin of Carlsbad Caverns (& nearby Lechuguilla Cave) is unlike that of almost any other cave.
Carlsbad Caverns is developed along the crest of Carlsbad Ridge. This ridge is part of the prominent Guadalupe Escarpment - a long, NE to SW-trending mountain range extending from southeastern New Mexico to western Texas.
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