Lunch at a depth of 225 m: buffet in the Great Hall of the Carlsbad Caves (USA)
Lunch at a depth of 225 m: buffet in the Great Hall of the Carlsbad Caves (USA)

Video: Lunch at a depth of 225 m: buffet in the Great Hall of the Carlsbad Caves (USA)

Video: Lunch at a depth of 225 m: buffet in the Great Hall of the Carlsbad Caves (USA)
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1960s. Carlsbad Caves (USA)
1960s. Carlsbad Caves (USA)

When man called himself the king of nature, he signed his own death warrant. It is perhaps impossible to find an excuse for the fact that a unique ecosystem Carlsbad Caves (New Mexico, USA) has suffered for decades as enterprising people turned them into a vacation spot and opened a dining room at a depth of 225 m.

The buffet served about 50 million visitors
The buffet served about 50 million visitors

The National Park in the Guadalupe Mountains is very popular with tourists. Many people dream of visiting the Carlsbad caves, because the age of these karst caves is 250 million years old. When a stream of visitors flooded here at the beginning of the 20th century, it was decided to open a buffet in the Great Hall. This happened in 1928, and the caves received the status of a national park only two years later.

Carlsbad Caves Buffet (USA)
Carlsbad Caves Buffet (USA)

The buffet was really necessary for the visitors of the cave, since the journey to the Great Hall and back took about six hours. Tourists really had time to get hungry, and the opportunity to refresh themselves on the way was very attractive for them. According to the most conservative estimates, the buffet served about 50 million people over several decades. Long lines were lined up in the cave to purchase a portion of lunch, a hot drink, and even a pack of cigarettes.

Carlsbad Caves Buffet (USA)
Carlsbad Caves Buffet (USA)

Of course, cooking started to negatively affect the ecosystem of the caves. The smell of food began to attract raccoons, skunks and ring-tailed cats here, and constant lighting negatively affected the life of bats, which cannot eat normally because of this.

Souvenir shop in Carlsbad Caves (USA)
Souvenir shop in Carlsbad Caves (USA)

In 1993, during the presidency of President Clinton, a decision was finally made to ban the trade in food. True, local entrepreneurs, more puzzled by their own profits than by the state of natural resources, fulfilled it only partially. They banned cooking in the Great Hall of the cave, but at the same time, you can still buy sandwiches, salads, yoghurts and other "light" foods there. Visitors can also enjoy coffee or hot chocolate.

Souvenir shops and buffet
Souvenir shops and buffet

In addition to the buffet, there is a souvenir shop in the cave where you can buy T-shirts and all kinds of souvenirs. Also, tourists have a unique opportunity to send a letter marked "Mailed from 750 feet below ground", take an urgent photo or record a video message to relatives.

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