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Researched by Alan B. |
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Caves are basically tunnels that can be as small as 5 feet long or as long as many miles. They are commonly damp, cold, and dark. But they can be as different as two people. Caves are some of nature’s creations.
Types of Caves
There are many different types of caves. The most common type is a limestone cave. They are the longest caves. They are formed when acidic water dissolves the limestone and carves out tunnels. After this has happened, the water table may lower making it so cavers can explore the inside of the cave.
Another type of cave is a lava tube. They are formed when lava flows through a trench or gully. The outer core of the lava hardens, and the lava in the center continues to flow until it either hardens or flows out of the trench, thus creating a hollowed space or tunnel.
Another type of cave is an ice cave, which has a formation similar to that of a lava tube. They are formed when water flows through a trench or gully and the outer part of the water freezes. Again the middle flows out of the trench and the ice is the outer part of the cave.
Another cave type is a sea cave. They are formed when waves carve out tunnels from the weakest parts of cliffs next to the sea. There are a few more types of caves, but these are the most common.
Cave Conservation
Years ago, many people were damaging caves. A few people decided to start a group called the National Speleological Society. (N.S.S.) Also, people started G.R.O.T.T.O.S., which are smaller groups of people who like working in caves. They would do their best to keep these caves from becoming ruined by the many people not being careful and respecting the caves. Even though they were not the first people in a conservation group, they were the first in the U.S. A problem was that the animals that live in caves were dying because their caves’ were polluted and litter was sometimes getting in the caves. The N.S.S. have to send people on cleanup trips to get the litter out of the caves. Nowadays there are approximately twelve thousand members in the N.S.S. and many other people in G.R.O.T.T.O.S.
Cave Animals
There two types of cave animals: troglexes and troglobites. Troglexes are animals that have a home in a cave, but come out to get food, water, and any other needs. They include animals such as bears, raccoons, moths, mice, and pack rats. Snakes, wolves, lions, foxes, and bats are also troglexes. On the other hand, troglobites live in a cave all of their life. They are more commonly blind than troglexes. Troglobites include fish, crayfish, insects, and spiders. Another example is blind crickets. Many of these animals are on the verge of extinction and the cave conservation groups are helping them stay alive.
Tools Cavers Use
Cavers use a large variety of tools on a caving trip. They bring a rope for pits, or steep parts of the cave. Obviously, cavers always bring at least one headlamp and a flashlight. Extra bulbs and batteries are needed in case the flashlights go out in the cave. For safety reasons knee pads and helmets are necessary. Caves are usually damp and cold, so cavers wear very warm and waterproof clothes. Food is necessary for cavers to bring if they are going to cave for a long time, or they may just bring small amounts of food such as granola bars on a shorter trip. Because of the exercise in caving, cavers bring plenty of drinking water on caving trips. To keep from damaging the cave, cavers bring a few trash bags for any garbage.
Longest Caves
Caves can be as long as three hundred sixty miles long depending on the type of cave they are. The longest limestone cave system is Mammoth Cave, located in Kentucky, which is about 360 miles long. The longest ice cave is Eisrenwelt Werfen. On Big Island, Hawaii, Kazumara Cave is the longest lava tube, which is approximately 40 miles long.
Cave Dwellers
Cave dwellers were very seldom found, because of the cold, wet condition of the caves, even though they lived hundreds of years in the past. They used parts of natural caves to be their shelter. There could have been a range of only one room in a cave to around twenty or so rooms. Unfortunately for these cave dwellers, animal packs, such as lions, would sometimes be living in the caves and would drive the cave dwellers right out of their homes. They would put some sort of cover on the entrance of the cave to keep them a little warmer and with less water coming in when it rained. They would commonly draw pictures on the walls of their caves, which are called petroglyphs. They may have thought these pictures were magic.
Speleothems
Speleothems are features in caves that are formed after the cave has been formed. The first speleothem is a stalactite. These are formed when calcite drips from the same place on the top of the cave for thousands of years. Stalactites look like rock icicles. This constant dripping may result in a stalagmite being formed under the stalactite. Stalagmites rest on the floor of the cave. If a stalactite and a stalagmite meet they form a column. Helectites are also formed from calcite, yet are twisted shapes. There are many more types of speleothems, but these are the main kinds.
Careers
There are not very many careers that involve caves. Spelunkers and cavers actually explore caves. Speleologists study caves, but seldom explore them.
The Future of Caves
Many people have different opinions on what the future will hold for caves. One opinion is that there will be more people interested in caves. It is possible this would result in more littering and pollution of caves. Unfortunately, the animals that live in caves may become endangered and eventually extinct. There would need to be many years before the cave would return to its original condition. This would result in making cave conservation that much tougher. However there may be more people interested in caves, but hopefully they will not litter and slowly destroy the caves.
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