[flyingfences]

In addition to the other comments and explanations, I saw another article wherein one of the geologists mentioned that climate change could be a factor that previously inhibited its discovery - until a few decades ago, it was probably snow-covered year-round, which would make it much harder to see.

[_1qkx]

It's hard to tell on the satellite timelapse imagery, but overall you can visually tell that snow amounts have declined in the area. However, the very point where this cave is located still looks like a hole to me as of 1984.

Open a new browser window and open these two links into separate tabs and cycle through them fast until you get oriented. Not sure what conclusions you might draw from it. It's only 34 years' worth, but hmm.

1: https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/#v=52.52697,-120.06...

2: https://www.google.com/maps/place/52%C2%B031'00.8%22N+120%C2...