The Atlas Obscura Podcast The Cave Below Minneapolis
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Apr 1, 2025 A daring urban explorer ventures deep into the hidden Schieks Cave beneath Minneapolis, uncovering its rich history and secrets. The podcast reveals fascinating mysteries of the city’s underground, including an unusual find of warm groundwater which has implications for geothermal energy. Listeners discover the challenges of urban exploration in this intricate cave system and hear from advocates urging recognition of its historical and scientific significance, contrasting the bustling city above with the wonders lurking below.
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Greg's Discovery
- Greg Brick, fascinated by Sheik's Cave, researched its history through old newspapers and guidebooks.
- Despite failed attempts, he found access in 2000 through a collapsed sanitary sewer.
Inside Sheik's Cave
- Inside, Greg found natural carvings, roaches, earthworms, and plastic straws.
- The cave also contained a "Black Sea" of raw sewage.
Warm Groundwater Discovery
- Greg, a hydrogeologist, discovered a subterranean waterfall with unusually warm water.
- This confirmed a theory about urban heat seeping underground and warming the groundwater.