A stalagmite is a type of formation that hangs from the ceiling of caves and hot springs.
The statement from the question describes a stalactite, not a stalagmite. A stalagmite, on the contrary, rises from the floor of a cave due to the accumulation of material deposited on the floor from ceiling drippings. This natural phenomenon creates amazing formations, which look unearthly and enigmatic, just like some works of art.
More Info:
en.wikipedia.org
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97 Comments
Lorna Lake
Many years ago, I had a teacher who taught us a mnemonic which was g = ground and c = ceiling .. as in stalagmites and stalactites .. I have mnemonics for all sorts of things that I understand no other way!
Jeff Overton
An easy way to remember : stalagmite stands mighty on the floor stalagtite hangs tight to the top.
Nickey Welsh
I was taught 'Tights come down' Mites crawl up.
Lorna Shipton
I was taught that stalagtites cling tight to the roof, and stalagmites might reach the roof
Micheline Ratcliffe
Lorna Lake, same here only growing up in France I learned the French version: mites= M (maison) the base and tites =T (toit) the roof ... works both ways .... any other language solutions out there ? would love to know.
rosemarymee
Stalagmites mount up. Stalagtites mean tights come down....
markkcolemann
ILorna Lake, I have a feeling that we had different teachers that taught the same way 👍😂
elizawheeler
If a stalactite doesn't hold on tight, it might become a stalagmite.
mapiferuk
Lorna Lake, excellent mnemonic, what a pity it only works in English
✨KRISTA✨
Good one Mr. Cowell!💕
Carl Belken
The ones at Onadaga and Meremac Caverns in Missouri are quite impressive.
earlepg
Warren Domke, That's the way I see it, quick and easy.
earlepg
Jenny Devereaux, That's near what I came up with mysekf one day (the stalagtite hangs tight to the ceiling). No need to remember anythjng about the stalagmite since it just sits there.
Deborah Gabriel
Good question and answer. I thought they had the same name. Learned something!
Kelvin Croker
The way I like to remember the difference is with the most prominent and different letters in each of their names. That is the M in stalagmites and the T in stalactites and note the fact that those 2 letters look like what they represent.
helencatlvr
I was taught stalactites hung from the top.
theotishaynes
Rushed before I realized the question. Knew the correct answer though!
Kat
My father told us, "The mites go up, and the tights go down"!