Rio Frio Cave, Mountain Pine Ridge, Cayo, Belize

Picture of Rio Frio Cave, largest accessible limestone cavern in Belize. Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve, Cayo District, Belize.



Excerpt from www.belizeexplorer.com :



"The Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve is a 300-square-mile area featuring Caribbean Pine and bracken ferns.



The geology of the Mountain Pine Ridge is dominated by massive uplifting of ancient rock. These rocks are among the oldest formations in the Americas. Some geologists theorize that when the entire Central American isthmus was covered by the sea, only the Mountain Pine Ridge region lay exposed as an island.



The geology of the Mountain Pine Ridge becomes even more apparent when you consider the vegetation. Throughout the reserve, the soils and vegetation form a habitat called "pine ridge". This habitat is characterized by poor soils and dense stands of Caribbean Pine. Where the "pine ridge" meets the rich soils of the tropical forests along the southern boundary, the vegetation changes abruptly from one side of the Macal River to the other.



Just past the administrative center of Augustine, lies the Rio Frio Cave. The huge entrance to the cave is draped by vines and trees. Though there is enough light in the cave to walk from one entrance to the other, it is better to use a flashlight as the rocks within are often slippery and very uneven in places. A stream runs through the cave and both stalagmites and stalactites create a beautiful scene within the cave. This cave is full of bats and is a great introduction to the massive cave systems which pockmark Belize."

Rio Frio Cave Cayo Belize
picture id: 124_belrio01