The following are illustrations of the development of Crystal Lake Cave. It formed when the continental seas retreated millions of years ago and left the land exposed to the elements. These elements shaped the land into rivers and bluffs. Acidic water seeped into the cracks and crevices of the limestone. Consequently the cracks, which were below the water table, began to dissolve away and form cavities. These cavities remain below the water table for a long period of time.
The river cut deeper as million of years passed, which in turn lowered the water table. Soon the cavities in the limestone connected and at the surface sinkholes began to appear. Groundwater continued to dissolve and remove the limestone, which in turn increased the cavity size and linked them into one uninterrupted channel.
The landscape continues to be eroded by the river. Some of the caverns that are above the water table are now air-filled and can promote the development of various cave formations. Below the water table dissolution is still occurring creating yet another chamber. Because Crystal Lake Cave was formed in this manner, there are no natural openings. This means that there is no life in the cave.
