How come it stays so cold in the Ice Cave?
The Ice Cave is a unique natural phenomenon that occur in lava tubes (although very rarely) around the world. For a lava tube type of ice cave formation to occur, just the right combination of physical characteristics have to be present. Lava tube caves are composed entirely of lava which is porous and riddled with air bubbles. The lava walls, floor and ceiling act as a very good insulating material. Another important factor is the physical shape of the cave itself. It must be able to trap cold air down into the cave and prevent warm air from entering. An ice cave must have a floor structure that will allow water to collect rather than drain off or leak out through fractures. During the cold months of winter, the water trapped in the cave will freeze and depending on the ventilation properties of the cave, that ice will serve to keep the temperature in the cave cold throughout the year. Over time, as ice continues to accumulate a critical mass of ice may develop transforming the cave f
