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The caves and tunnels of Gibraltar have fascinated many people with legends of soldiers who had got lost in the far depths of some caves, never to be seen again, and creepy stories of ghosts of those who had died as the result of the many tunnelling accidents which occurred during World War II.

Many of the caves listed in this section are merely small and insignificant holes in the wall whilst other big ones have been destroyed in the past to make way for magazines, stores,etc.

During the Rock's creation the thick, horizontal Limestone beds were thrust to a steep angle, causing massive sliding and tumbling. This resulted in the many cavities which we now call our caves. Further erosion by hot and cold climatic changes caused massive fracturing and breaking of big chunks of rocks, and together with the windswept sand (Aeolian Sand) from the dried up Mediterranean Basin, went to make up the many Ta-luses which surrounded Gibraltar. A beautiful array of Stalactites and Stalagmites, caused by Carbonic Acid erosion, can be seen deep inside the many show caves.

Many of the caves were once occupied by Prehistoric Man. At one time we had some caves which were on dry land and which are now under the sea. Nevertheless, they are still considered to have been possible human shelters. Some have been excavated, but unfortunately have not yielded anything, it seems they have been washed clean out of any remains. However, the expectation of finding something one day still exists.

In Gibraltar, the majority of caves were formed by the separation of the Bedding Plains. These have turned into beautiful Show Caves because of the profusion of formations in them. As there are no rivers or lakes in Gibraltar, there cannot be any erosion due to waters seeping through the surface. There is evidence in some of them which indicate short periods of flooding.

When rivers flow on the surface it is quite common to have them gauging their way deep underground, cuttting its way through the bed-rock, creating what is termed as a Phreatic Cave and commonly known as a Pot-Hole or Swallow-Hole. These Pot-Holes look very much like giant Drainpipes, very smooth, very deep and perpendicular. The fast flow of water which is making them does not allow any formations to grow because of the constant erosion.

Fluctuations in sea level, not only created new sea caves by the action of the waves against the sea cliffs, but also flooded existing ones. Today there are some of these which are high and dry, whilst others still remain underwater. These caves have no formations and the smoothness of their walls was given that polished finish by the action of sand and wave.

I have classed a type of cave, which I think is exclusive to Gibraltar. These are those found by accident whilst tunnelling.
I have called them Sterile, as no evidence was ever found, of any contact with the outside world. Not until man broke through did they become contaminated, be it by spiders, bats or bacteria taken in by the air currents.

TITO VALLEJO

CAVE LIST GIBRALTAR
NUMBERS REFER TO POSITION ON CAVE MAP (coming soon)

***** ABBOT'S CAVE [CUEVA DE LOS ABADES]
1.. ALAMEDA GROTTO
2. APE'S DEN CAVE
3. BEEFSTEAK CAVE
4. BELL'S BACKYARD CAVE
5. BELLMAN'S CAVE
6. BENNETT'S CAVE
7. BLACKSTRAP CAVE
8. BOATHOIST CAVE OR BULMAN'S
9. BRAY'S CAVE
10. BROWN'S CAVE
11. BUENA VISTA CAVE
12. BUFFADERO CAVE
13. CAMP BAY CAVE [PARSONS LODGE]
14. CATALAN BAY ROAD CAVE
15. CATALAN BAY CAVE
16. CATCHMENT CAVE [UNDER THE EXISTING WATER CATCHMENT]
17. CAVE "S"
18. COLLIN'S CAVE [RE-DISCOVERED 1.9.1968.]
19. COMCEN CAVE
20. COPTIC CAVE
21. CORMORANT CAVE
22. COUSINS' CAVE [PRIMOS]
23. CRYSTAL CAVE
24. CRYSTAL CAVERN
25. CUMBERLAND CAVE
26. DEAD MAN'S CAVE
27. DEVIL'S DUSTBIN
28. DEVIL'S FALL
29. DEVIL'S FALL [NORTH]
30. DEVIL'S FALL [WEST-UPPER] "CRACK CAVE" [CRAG]
31. DEVIL'S FALL [WEST LOWER]
32. DEVIL'S GAP CAVE
33. DEVIL'S TOWER CAVE [MOUSTERIAN SHELTER]
34. DIESEL'S DELIGHT
35. DOUGLAS CAVE
36. DUDLEY WARD'S CAVE [DISCOVERED IN 1966]
37. EUROPA ADVANCE CAVE
38. EUROPA PASS CAVE
39. FIGTREE CAVE [CAMP BAY] No 3 [ROOT'S]
40. FIGTREE CAVE No 2
41. FORBES'S QUARRY CAVE
42. GENISTA ONE
43. GENISTA TWO
44. GENISTA THREE
45. GENISTA FOUR
46. GEORGE'S BOTTOM CAVE [DISCOVERED 27.11.1965.]
47. GIBBON'S CAVE
48. GLEN ROCKY CAVE
49. GLEN ROCKY SHELTER CAVE
50. GOAT'S HAIR [TWIN CAVES] [BROME'S FIGTREE CAVE]
51. GOAT'S HEAD CAVE
52. GORHAM'S CAVE
53. GUNN'S CAVE
54. HARLEY STREET FISSURE
55. HAYNES'S CAVE
56. HOLYBOY'S CAVE
57. HORSESHOE CAVE
58. INCE'S CAVE
59. JOHN'S GIANT
60. JUDGE'S CAVE
61. LANDPORT CAVE LEARY'S CAVE
62. LEONORA'S CAVE
63. LEVANT CAVE
64. LIDDELL'S UNION FISSURE
65. LOOKOUT CAVE [HOLE IN THE WALL]
66. MAMMOTH CAVE
67. MARBLE ARCH CAVE
68. MARTIN'S CAVE
69. MARTIN'S GUARD 1 & 2
70. MCNEIL'S CAVE
71. MEDITERRANEAN CAVE
72. MIDDLE HILL CAVE
73. MONKEY'S CAVE
74. MOORISH CASTLE BARRACKS CAVE
75. MOOR'S CAVE [CUEVA DEL MORO]
76. MOUNT MISERY FISSURE
77. MOUSTERIAN ROCK SHELTER [SEE 33]
78. MUSHROOM CAVE
79. "NAMELESS" CAVE
80. NEW ST.MICHAEL'S CAVE
81. O'HARA'S CAVE
82. "OPERATION MONKEY" CAVE
83. PAINTER'S CAVE
84. PETE'S PARADISE CAVE [DISCOVERED 24.2.1966.]
85. POCA ROCA CAVE
86. QUEEN'S CAVE
87. QUEEN'S LINES CAVE
88. RAGGED STAFF CAVE
89. RESERVOIR CAVE No 4
90. RESERVOIR CAVE No 5
91. RESERVOIR FISSURE
92. RIFLE DUSTBIN
93. ROCK FALL CAVE
94. ROCK GUN CAVE
95. ROCK GUN CATCHMENT SHELTER
96. RONALD'S DELIGHT ***** ST.CHRISTOPHER'S CAVE [CUEVA SAN CRISTOBAL]
97. ST.MICHAEL'S CAVE [OLD]
98. ST.MICHAEL'S CAVE [OLD] LOWER LOWER
99. ST.MICHAEL'S CAVE [OLD] ROOF PASSAGE
ST.MICHAEL'S CAVE [NEW] SEE No 80
100. SANDY CAVE LOWER
101. SANDY CAVE UPPER
102. SAPPER'S BOG SCORPION CAVES
103. SEA CAVES [HALF SUBMERGED]
104. SHED CAVE
105. SIGNAL TROOP CAVE
106. SMART'S WELL RESERVE
107. SMITH'S CAVE
108. SMUGGLER'S CAVE
109. SOUTH CAVE
110. SPANISH MINE [SEE 121]
111. SPIDER CAVE
112. SPUR ROAD CAVE
113. STAR CHAMBER CAVE
114. SWALLOW'S NEST CAVE
115. TINA'S FISSURE [DISCOVERED 7.11.1965.]
116. TRANSMITTER FISSURE TREASURE CAVE [CUEVA DEL TESORO]
117. UPPER ALL'S WELL CAVE
118. VANGUARD CAVE
119. VINEY QUARRY CAVE
120. WILLIAM'S CAVE [SITE OF PRINCE EDWARD'S ROAD SHELTER ?]
121. WILLIS'S CAVE [SEE 110]
122. WILSON'S CAVE
123. WINKIES CAVE
124. CALETA PALACE CAVE [ST.ABB'S HEAD]
125. NURSERY CAVE [BRUCE'S FARM]