Editing Wookey Hole Caves (section)

==Description==
The show cave consists of a dry gallery connecting three large chambers, the first of which contains the Witch of Wookey formation. There are various high-level passages leading off from these chambers, with two small exits above the tourist entrance. The [[River Axe (Bristol Channel)|River Axe]] is formed by the water entering the cave systems and flows through the third and first chambers, from which it flows to the [[Resurgence (spring)|resurgence]], through two [[Sump (cave)|sumps]] {{convert|40|and|30|m|ft}} long, where it leaves the cave and enters the open air.{{sfn|Irwin|1977|page=162}}{{sfn|Barrington|Stanton|1977|page=179}}

The river is maintained at an artificially high level and falls a couple of metres when a sluice is lowered to allow access to the fourth and fifth chambers, two small air spaces. Normally, however, these are only accessible by cave diving. Beyond the fifth chamber a roomy submerged route may be followed for a further {{convert|40|m|ft}}, passing under three large [[rift]]s with air spaces, to surface in the ninth chamber&nbsp;– a roomy chamber over {{convert|30|m|ft}} long and the same high. High-level passages here lead to a former resurgence, now blocked, some {{convert|45|m|ft}} above the current resurgence.{{sfn|Irwin|1977|page=162}}{{sfn|Barrington|Stanton|1977|page=179}}

An artificial tunnel {{convert|180|m|ft}} leading off from the third chamber allows show cave visitors to cross the seventh and eighth chambers on bridges, and skirt around the ninth chamber on a walkway, before exiting near the resurgence.{{sfn|Irwin|1977|page=162}} A second excavated {{convert|74|m|ft|adj=mid|-long}} tunnel from the ninth chamber allows visitors to visit the 20th chamber.<ref name="wmn">{{cite web|last1=W|first1=Bayley|title=PICTURES: Rare rock formation revealed at Wookey Hole Caves|url=http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/PICTURES-Rare-rock-formation-Wookey-Hole-Caves/story-27535621-detail/story.html#1|website=Western Morning News|access-date=29 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Price|first1=Duncan|title=Operation Twenty|journal=Descent|date=Oct–Dec 2015|issue=246|pages=24–26}}</ref>

From the ninth chamber, a dive of about {{convert|200|m|ft}} passes almost immediately from the [[Dolomite (rock)|Dolomitic]] [[Conglomerate (geology)|Conglomerate]] into the [[limestone]], and descends steadily for {{convert|70|m|ft}} to a depth of {{convert|23|m|ft}} under a couple of high rifts with [[airbell]]s (enclosed air spaces between water and roof) before reaching air space in the 19th chamber. The 20th chamber is at the top of a large boulder slope&nbsp;– {{convert|60|m|ft}} long, {{convert|15|m|ft}} wide, and {{convert|22|m|ft}} high. From here a roomy passage some {{convert|400|m|ft}} long ascends towards a now-blocked fossil resurgence in the [[Ebbor Gorge]]. The total length of passages in this area is about {{convert|820|m|ft}}.{{sfn|Irwin|1977|page=162}}{{sfn|Barrington|Stanton|1977|page=179}} A passage near the end connects with Chamber 24 near Sting Corner.<ref name="descent277">{{cite journal| last1=Simmonds| first1=Vince| title=Land of Hope and Glory| journal=Descent| date=December 2020 – January 2021| issue=277| pages=26–29}}</ref>

The continuation is found in the 19th chamber, where {{convert|152|m|ft}} of passage descending to a depth of {{convert|24|m|ft}} surfaces in the 22nd chamber&nbsp;– {{convert|300|m|ft}} of dry passages at various levels with a static pool. The way on is within this pool at a depth of {{convert|19|m|ft}} where {{convert|100|m|ft}} of passage ascends to surface in the 23rd chamber&nbsp;– {{convert|100|m|ft}} of large passage, followed by four short sumps that arrive in the 24th chamber. This is {{convert|370|m|ft}} of what is described in the guidebook as "magnificent" river passage, {{convert|13|m|ft}} high and {{convert|2|m|ft}} wide, which finishes at a cascade falling from a {{convert|30|m|ft|adj=on}} long lake. There are also more than {{convert|370|m|ft}} of high-level passages above the river. The way on continues underwater for some {{convert|100|m|ft}} reaching a depth of {{convert|25|m|ft}} before surfacing in the 25th chamber&nbsp;– called the Lake of Gloom because of its thick mud deposits.{{sfn|Irwin|1977|page=162}}{{sfn|Barrington|Stanton|1977|page=179}} The sump at the end of this has been dived for {{convert|400|m|ft}} to a maximum depth of {{convert|90|m|ft}} before gravel chokes prevented further progress. The end is about {{convert|1000|m|yd}} northeast of the entrance.<ref name="mrca" />