MICHAEL'S CAVE-THE AWAKENING PROGRAM

‘…The scene as we look down into the deep cavern, is like one in fairy-land…’

Flora Calpensis, 1880 Reminiscences of Gibraltar

I]

St Michael’s Cave Map

II]

The Hollow Mountain

III]

Science & Forces

IV]

The Awakening

V]

Making The Awakening

VI]

The Forms of St Michael’s Cave

VII]

Walli & The Cave Pack

THE SQUID

Since ancient times Gibraltar has been a revered guardian of the known World. Said to have been hewn by Hercules himself on his way to the island of Erytheia to complete his famed 12 labours. Hercules used his God-like strength to break through the Atlas Mountains instead of climbing over them. Thus, he created what would be known as the ‘Pillars of Hercules’ – Jebel Musa and Gibraltar.

The Romans called Gibraltar ‘Mons Calpe’ – ‘The Hollow Mountain’

Pomponius Mela, one of the earliest writers on geography who lived around the beginning of the Christian era, described Mons Calpe as, “A mountain with wonderful concavities, which has its western side almost opened by a large cave which may be penetrated far into the interior.

St Michael’s Cave has become synonymous with Gibraltar’s extensive cave network. Some 200 meters deep it was long believed to be bottomless, leading some historians to theorise that the Greeks believed it to be an entrance to Hades, their mythological underworld.

According to Alonso Hernández del Portillo, the first known historian of Gibraltar, the cave’s name is derived from a similar grotto in Monte Gargano near the Sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo in Apulia, Italy, where the archangel Michael is said to have appeared.

The cave has been a party to many uses over the centuries. The British utilised it during the Great Siege of Gibraltar to protect citizens during bombardment by Spanish and French ships. In WWII it had been used as an ammunition store and as an emergency hospital. In the Victorian era it played host to parties and picnics. ‘…it is often lit up with blue lights and torches for the entertainment of distinguished foreigners, or for picnic parties... A military band plays a choice selection of music down in the “first hall” of the cave, whilst the guests flit about here and there… The scene as we look down into the deep cavern, is like one in fairy-land…’– Flora Calpensis, 1880 Reminiscences of Gibraltar To this day the ‘First Hall’ is still used as an auditorium for events and concerts with a seating capacity of 400.

Expeditions have been launched to explore the many caves around Gibraltar,including those of the St Michael’s cave complex.

Leonora’s Cave is an inner part of the St Michael’s Cave karstic system and is in one of the four main systems of the cave. It was explored during the 19th Century by Captain Fredrick Brome who was Governor of the Military Prison. He named this cave after Leonora, his wife.

In 1942 Lower St Michael’s Cave was discovered accidently by the Royal Engineers while driving a tunnel into the lower reaches to provide a secondary exit to the upper cave. A cavern was exposed, with several chambers, which may have been sealed for 20,000 years. The cavern is extraordinarily beautiful, glimmering with white, grey and red stalactite columns, resembling a cathedral with pulpit, chancel and organ pipes.

This exceptionally alluring cavern is remarkable for three reasons: the size of the main chambers, the profusion and variety of calcite formations and last, but not least – a lake of crystal-clear water, nearly forty meters long estimated to hold 200,000 litres.

SCIENCE & FORCES Caves are mostly solutional, commonly referred to as limestone caves for the type of soluble rock in which they are formed. Such caves form as groundwater dissolves quantities of soluble rock by seeping through joints and faults.

St Michael’s Cave is a prime example of this and is home to a myriad of cave formations that make sites such as this amazing attractions.

St Michael’s Cave has taken millions of years to form and in this time has given birth to an eclectic array of speleothems.

Speleothems are mineral deposits that accumulate over time in natural caves.

They most commonly form in calcareous caves due to carbonate dissolution reactions. They can take a variety of forms, depending on their depositional history and environment.

Stalactite (from the Greek stalasso, ‘to drip’, and meaning ‘that which drips’) is a type of formation that hangs from the ceiling of caves, hot springs, or manmade structures such as bridges and mines. Any material which is soluble may form a stalactite. Stalactites may be composed of lava, minerals, mud, peat, pitch, sand, and sinter.

A stalactite is not necessarily a speleothem, though speleothems are the most common form of stalactite because of the abundance of limestone caves.

A stalagmite (from the Greek stalagmias, ‘dropping, trickling’) is a type of rock formation that rises from the floor of a cave due to the accumulation of material deposited on the floor from ceiling drippings.

Flowstones are composed of sheetlike deposits of calcite formed where water flows down the walls or along the floors of a cave. They are typically found in ‘solution caves’, in limestone, where they are the most common speleothem. However, they may form in any type of cave where water enters that has picked up dissolved minerals.

A helictite is a speleothem found in limestone caves that changes its axis from the vertical at one or more stages during its growth.

They have a curving or angular form that looks as if they were grown in zero gravity.

They are most likely the result of capillary forces acting on tiny water droplets, a force often strong enough at this scale to defy gravity.

Helictites are, perhaps, the most delicate of cave formations. They are usually made of needle-form calcite and aragonite. Forms of helictites have been described in several types: ribbon helictites, saws, rods, butterflies,‘hands and clumps of worms. They typically have radial symmetry. They can be easily crushed or broken by the slightest touch.

Because of this, helictites are rarely seen within arm’s reach in tourist caves.

A soda straw (or simply straw) is a speleothem in the form of a hollow mineral cylindrical tube. They are also known as tubular stalactites. Soda straws grow in places where water leaches slowly through cracks in rock, such as on the roofs of caves. A soda straw can turn into a stalactite if the hole at the bottom is blocked, or if the water begins flowing on the outside surface of the hollow tube. These tubes form when calcium carbonate or calcium sulphate dissolved in the water comes out of solution

and is deposited. In soda straws, as each drop hovers at the tip, it deposits a ring of mineral at its edge. It then falls and a new drop takes its place. Each successive drop of water deposits a little more mineral before falling, and eventually a tube is built up. Stalagmites or flowstones may form where the water drops hit the cave floor.

Soda straws are some of the most fragile of speleothems.

Like helictites, they can be easily crushed or broken by the slightest touch. When left alone, soda straws have been known to grow up to 9 meters long.

Stalactos are columnar deposits formed by the union of a stalactite with its complementary stalagmite, also known as a column or pillar.

An immersive light and sound installation expressing layer upon layer of history fused with the rock. The ancient cavern lays dormant. The Awakening illuminates sculptures older than time and reawakens their hidden story.

As you journey through the cave system you will encounter ancient timekeepers brought back to life, vast hidden forms and towering flowstones that once again are in full motion.

The experience culminates within the Main Cavern in a 360-degree projection and light spectacle.

The Main Cavern will see you thrust back in time to the birth of Gibraltar as told by the cave. We begin with a darkening of the space and white light emanating out of the central column revealing the expanse of forms before you.

This weeping sequence of light and shadow define and rotate around each form, giving you a unique perspective on the layers that built his unique environment. Illuminating coloured lighting will enhance further the aesthetic around you.

As if plunging into the depths of the ocean floor you are transported back to the very beginning of the Rock’s limestone story.

Through the light, sediment particles drift and sway in a fluid motion towards the floor. As this sediment accumulates you will see that they form layers.

There is a transition from sediment particle to the firm limestone layer – the bedding plates have now formed.

Suddenly, dividing the cave in two – representing the Eurasian and African plates, these huge tectonic forces erupt without warning. The masses are driving toward one another, you will see the dust and debris fall as the cave comes fully into motion.

As they collide, water is forced between the rough surfaces and when they finally meet with a thunderous force, intense heat and power surround you.

Now the rock rises out of the ocean as the Pillars of Hercules engulfing you in sky. The weather around you shifts and changes as you are forced through time to the heating of the Mediterranean and its evaporation.

Plunging back to the depths you will once again find yourself underwater – but waterfalls will form as the draining between the bedding plates quickly lowers the water level carving form and shape into the rock around you.

Gradually this subsides as a cold descends on to the cave which has begun to freeze.

There is only silence and the creeping ice to be heard.

The ice-age strips away revealing the limestone.

Faint tremors travel about you building in intensity

until it begins to tear and crack the cave around you.

As the earthquake settles water begins to seep back into the cave and it begins to grow.

Hurtling you once again through time we come to our second ice age, interrupting the growth of the formations, slowing them down to almost static.

The ice subsides, there is a moment of stillness before a breach in the cave wall as water from melting ice accelerates the process of cave formations.

As the water ebbs again the cave begins to expand once more, reaching the present-day size. Light will pulsate back to the column making you conscious once more of the space you find yourself in with all its wonders.

To create ‘The Awakening’ at St Michael’s Cave was a tremendous feat – it was paramount to be sympathetic to the natural surroundings of the cave and never detract from that, so we employed some of the World’s best audio and lighting specialists to ensure whatever was done would be a true reflection of the environment.

Initially, we began by identifying various audio-visual options available at events and exhibits for both education and tourism around the World. We started down the route of virtual reality to reveal an amazing story at the caves; however, VR is not necessary in a location such as St Michael’s Cave, one is already in a wonderland.

Discovering projection mapping was the key to the successful union of cave and technology – we could transport the viewer on a journey using the very rock faces and formations themselves.

We undertook the first ever 3D mapping of the cave to ensure the technology would work in such an environment. We used Point Cloud Data which consists of millions of laser points to give us an extraordinarily complex and accurate 3D model of St Michael’s Cave.

Professional sound designers from the West End in London who perfect audio for theatres, measured every nook and cranny to find the perfect locations to deliver top level audio.

To arrive at the stage you witness today has taken more than 50 specialists in various fields – from sound scaping to 3D animation: and everything in-between.

We have over 16 discreetly positioned projectors, over 120 lights, 60 speakers and kilometres of cable running through St Michael’s Cave.

Lighting specialists found the best balance between colour and light so that you can not only appreciate the formations of the cave like no one ever has but photograph them in total clarity too.

We partnered with Pixel Artworks; specialist in light and pixel technology, to create ‘The Awakening’.

Working with a team of creatives to delve deep into the geological history of Gibraltar and the amazing forms within the cave.

The project, over two years in the making, took 4 months of intensive labour to construct and program onsite at St Michael’s Cave.

The Angel St Michael’s Cave has only recently revealed a long kept secret – The Angel of St Michael’s Cave.

Comprised of a curtain of stalactites, the formation; newly dubbed the Angel, was discovered during the creative process of ‘The Awakening’

The Angel St Michael’s Cave has only recently revealed a long kept secret – The Angel of St Michael’s Cave.

Comprised of a curtain of stalactites, the formation; newly dubbed the Angel, was discovered during the creative process of ‘The Awakening’

The Flowstone One of St Michael’s Caves greatest examples of the creation of formations through water has been brought to life to enhance this scientific wonder.

The Squid A Stalagmite of significant beauty and the first projected zone on entry to the cave – it has been likened to a face, a mushroom and a squid.

Some of Gibraltar’s most famous residents can be found outside St Michael’s Cave – The Barbary Macaques.

Legend has it that these wonderful animals made their way to Gibraltar via an underground tunnel, one that crossed the Strait of Gibraltar to their native home in Africa. The exit to this was said to be at St Michael’s Cave.

One myth even suggests that should the macaques ever disappear then the British will leave Gibraltar. So much so that during WWII when pack numbers had diminished Sir Winston Churchill took a personal interest and additional animals were imported from Morocco.

The Macaques are fed and cared for by the Department of the Environment, but they will still look for a treat from curious tourists.

Be careful though as feeding them is illegal and comes with a hefty fine!

Walli is one of the cave packs key characters, he’s an extremely intelligent animalwho loves fresh fruit and nuts. He’s famous for opening car doors and searching for any snacks.

There is also Coco the pack leader, Billy - Walli’s brother and Chica, an extra curious female with a penchant for stealing food.

SOUVENIR PHOTO Be sure to make a memory and stop by one of our green screen areas for a photo souvenir. A fantastic way to remember your trip to St Michael’s cave and Gibraltar.

Choose from a wide selection of photo backgrounds – taking you from Gibraltar’s peak amidst our famous Macaques to the heart of the Rock within St Michael’s Cave and its renowned formations.

EXPERIENCE MERCHANDISE When exiting take a stroll through The Cabin and pick up some of ‘The Awakening’ official merchandise. A wide selection of memorabilia from T-Shirts to plushies of our mascot Walli the Macaque – there’s something for everyone.

@stmichaelscave @stmichaelscave www.stmichaelscave.com