B.C.’s provincial government has closed the area around a newly discovered cave thought to be Canada’s largest in order to preserve the enormous cavern — and anyone caught in the area could be on the hook for $1 million.
A helicopter crew came across the cavern in the northeastern corner of Wells Gray Provincial Park in March. The cave is the largest known of its type, around 135 metres deep, and researchers have kept its exact location a secret to protect the area.
B.C. Parks announced on Wednesday that the cave and its surrounding area are now closed to the public. Those who try to get close despite the shutdown face a fine of up to $1 million or being imprisoned for one year.
The cave is the largest known example of the type known as “striped karst,” which is marble interspersed with other types of ancient ocean rock.
Pit the size of a soccer field
Geologist Catherine Hickson, part of the team researching the cave, first visited the site in September.
The entrance pit is about 100 metres long and 60 metres wide. Its depth is hard to measure because of mist from a waterfall pouring over the entrance, but initial examinations show the cavern is at least 135 metres deep.
‘It’s about the size of a soccer field,’ geologist Catherine Hickson said. ‘So, if you think of a soccer field and you put that soccer field on its end so you have this pit going down.’ (Catherine Hickson/Tuya Terra Geo Corp.)
“It’s about the size of a soccer field,” Hickson said. “So, if you think of a soccer field and you put that soccer field on its end so you have this pit going down. Think about this giant circular or oval hole that just goes down and down and down.
“It is truly amazing.”
An aerial view of the cave and its entrance:
Hickson said it’s unusual to find such an enormous cave in that area.
“It’s an important landmark — an important feature for Canadians to be proud about,” she said.
The people who first spotted the cave from the helicopter named it Sarlacc’s Pit, because of its similarity to the lair of the sarlacc, a creature from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.
Hickson said a formal naming of the cave will happen after consultations with First Nations. She added further investigations and research of the cave and its unique geography will likely be carried out in 2020, depending on funding.
B.C. Parks said the area will be closed until consultation with First Nations is finished and public safety has been fully assessed.
An aerial view of the entrance to Sarlacc’s Pit in Wells Gray Provincial Park. (J. Pollack)