Stalagmite

caves · geology · rock formations

Water drops build them. Stalagmites form when water drips from a cave ceiling for thousands of years, leaving behind tiny bits of rock and minerals each time.

They point upward. Unlike icicles, stalagmites grow up from the ground toward the sky, often looking like rocky cones or towers standing on the cave floor.

Made of minerals mostly. Most stalagmites are made of calcium carbonate, the same mineral that makes up seashells and chalk, though some can be formed from lava or other materials.

Grow super slowly. It can take thousands of years for a stalagmite to grow just a few feet tall, nature's most patient builder!

Beautiful cave jewels. Stalagmites are treasured sights in caves around the world, often lit up by cave explorers to show off their amazing colors and shapes.