Why Mammoth Cave Is Internationally Significant

Ecological Importance

• ~130 animal species; 12 endangered/threatened.
• ~19 rare/threatened plants.
• 10+ endangered bat species.

Geological Importance

• World's longest known cave system (~420+ miles surveyed).
• Premier karst topography example.
• Research repository for geology, hydrology, biology, paleontology, climatology.

Historical & Cultural Importance

• 10,000+ years of human use: prehistoric shelter, saltpeter mining (War of 1812), Civil War refuge.
• 19th/early 20th-century tourism.
• Prehistoric and historic artifacts preserved.

International Designations

• UNESCO World Heritage Site
• International Biosphere Reserve
• Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar)