Karamu Cave
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| Karamu Cave | |
|---|---|
 The wedding cake, Karamu Cave | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 37°53′45″S 175°04′22″E / 37.89571°S 175.07270°E |
| Discovery | 1925 |
| Geology | Limestone |
Karamu Cave is a stream cave of over 2 miles (3.2 km),[1] with several large chambers, near Karamu in the North Island of New Zealand,[2] which Waikato Regional Council has classed as regionally significant.[3] It was discovered about 1925, after blasting at the nearby limeworks.[4] The name "Karamu" comes from the Māori word for the karamū tree. Bones of moas were found in the cave in 1927[5] and of the snipe-rail (Capellirallus karamu)[6] in 1954.[6]
The cave is in 30 million year old Elgood Limestone,[7] with stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, crystals and fossils. Glowworms (Māori: Titiwai) live in the caves, as humidity is high, which suits the silk threads which capture their prey.[8][9][10] In 1946 there was mention of a Te Pahu Colliery near the caves.[11]
