DeSoto Caverns

Short excerpt from America’s Library article:

DeSoto Caverns

A Local Legacy

Would you like to go spelunking? Do you know what it is? Spelunking is the exploration of caves as a hobby, including measuring and mapping caves and reporting on the plants or other things that grow in them.

I. Vocabulary words from this article :

agent

cavern

collection

explore

gunpowder

inhabitant

magnificent

mineral

mining

spelunking

Click here for a vocabulary matching exercise.

II. Pre-Reading Questions

Can you guess what “spelunking” is?

Why do you think people like to do this kind of activity?

III. Reading Time

Click here to read the article.

DeSoto Caverns
from America’s Library (www.americaslibrary.gov)

When you have finished reading, return to this page and answer the questions below.

IV. Post-Reading Questions

What are stalagmites?

What are stalactites?

Who described DeSoto caverns as “magnificent”?

What were DeSoto caverns used for during the Civil War?