They were about to discover some of the most exquisite formations ever seen underground. The walls were covered with the most delicate and fragile crystals. Many of these crystals were made of gypsum, a mineral that comes from limestone. And there was mile after mile of them. Water is the creator of most caves, but, unlike all other limestone caves, Lechuguilla's rock had not been eaten away by running rainwater. Something else was responsible. The only water Lechuguilla has are these wonderfully still clear pools. As explorers went deeper into the cave, they came across whole galleries filled with the most unusual formations, like these five-metre cones, frosted with the most delicate crystals.


他们居然在这里发现了迄今为止最精美的地下构造。岩壁上覆盖着精美的水晶。其中很多是由石膏形成的，而石膏只有在石灰岩中才有。在这里这种水晶般的构造绵延若干公里。水是大多数洞穴的创造者，但和别的石灰岩溶洞不同的是，楚基耶洞的岩石并没有被流水冲掉。这其中别有原因。楚基耶洞中唯一的水是这些静止清澈的水池。探险者们进到更深处之后，发现了充满最奇特形状的地段，像这种长达5米的椎形构造，上面布满极其精美的水晶。