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DNS FOG Temp: 40 °F Wind: NNE at 5 mph Thursday, December 12, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend November 25, 2002 Since you asked Closest ice caves are near Bend What are ice caves? Are there any in the Rogue Valley? — Jennifer B., Talent Jennifer, our geographer-in-residence says the nearest ice caves are to the northeast of us on the way to Bend. "Ice cave" is a bit of a misnomer, since the structures are not actually caves in ice but lava tubes in which ice persists at the bottom. Lava tubes are formed when a crust forms on a river of molten lava; the hotter lava inside drains out, leaving a hollow passage. When such a tube has a single opening up high, the only air circulation that occurs happens when cold outside air sinks in. Under these conditions, the ice that forms lasts through the summers. Many ice caves are found on the flanks of Newberry Crater south of Bend. One of the best-known is Arnold Ice Cave. Early settlers knew a good thing when they saw it and quarried the ice and sold it commercially. Incidentally, our geology consultant says the real name for an ice cave is "glaciere." Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S