PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 105 



one of nature's natural refrigerators a cave where 1 ice forms during 

 the heat of summer, only to disappear as winter comes on. 



The Decorah ice cave is really one of the scientific wonders of the 

 world. Theories have been advanced by a number of scientists as to the 

 formation of ice in it, but at best they are only theories and must be 

 accepted as such. The only explanation that the layman can offer 

 is that it is nature's refrigerator, 'the ice being formed by air currents 

 passing through the chambers of the cave and out through a small aper- 

 ture in the top of the bluff above the cave. The quantity of ice seems 

 regulated by the amount of moisture in the ground. In seasons of ex- 

 cessive moisture ice will form to a thickness of six inches on the walls 

 of the cave, but in seasons of drouth the quantity is small, sometimes 

 disappearing altogether, though the cave will be damp and very cold. 

 The only other ice caves of importance known to the scientific world 

 are located in Kentucky and Russia. 



An ice well also exists in Decorah; it is located on a hillside in the 

 south part of the city, a mile or more from the ice cave. It has been 

 known to freeze over during the month of May. 



.A scenic road has been built that passes this cave, and near its 

 western terminus the visitor comes upon a sequestered nook in a val- 

 ley where Dunning's spring gushes from the rocks and tumbles down the 

 hillside for a distance of sixty feet or more in its haste to swell the 

 waters of the Upper Iowa. The courage to scale the heights above this 

 spring will be rewarded by a view of ravishing beauty. In the fore- 

 ground the habiliments of a clean, prosperous city glint in the sun- 

 shine, while across the highlands may be seen the comfortable homes 

 of thrifty farmers, and the spires of churches where they gather re- 

 ligiously to acknowledge the boons that a kind providence has bestowed 

 upon them. 



Passing out through west Decorah, Pulpit Rock comes into view. At 

 a point where the road turns the elbow of a hill there rises a pillar of 

 stone that reminds one of the high pulpits of olden times. Following the 

 road a little farther the tourist comes upon a stream that, when pur- 

 sued to its source, is found to be fed by two springs. It is the natural 

 home of the trout and many a speckled beauty has been lured from 

 its hiding place under the banks, but lest the reader may be making 

 plans for a raid upon it, let me say that the Decorah Rod and Gun club 

 has caused the stream to be posted and no fishing is allowed at present. 

 Beautiful pines and hardwood trees line the hills here. In the spring 

 anemones, hepaticas and blood roots, dog toothed violets, trilliums 

 and Dutchman's breeches, followed later i by purple violets, bloom in 

 profusion, while nodding in the breeze near by are stately ferns and 

 the finer maiden hair awaiting to take their place in the boquet. 



Retracing our steps we swing to the right and soon are passing over 

 the Dug Way. Through a fringe of trees the water of the river sparkles 

 only a few feet away, but rising over one's head is another of those 

 limestone bluffs, pierced by ravines that issue a silent invitation to 

 him who would explore. 



