Overview
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Caves are an amazing spectacle. These geological formations take millions of years to form. They are great for lifeforms ( including humans). This website is an introduction to the wonderful world of caves.
There are many different types of caves. Most are found in limestone regions. Rain water containing carbon dioxide erodes the caves over millions of years. This is because the water is a weak acid that eats through the limestone. An example of this is in Ethiopia where a river has formed a cave in a cliff. This cave is called the Sof Omar cave. Caves can also be found in other environments such as the seashore where they are made by erosion from the sea and wind. Some caves form in ice, such as the Eisriesenwelt caves in the Austrian alps.These caves formed millions of years ago when Europe's climate was warmer than it is now. Because the temperature inside the cave is constantly below zero the ice formations, like the Ice Organ or Ice Chapel, never melt. In northern California in the USA there are many caves formed by lava or earthquakes such as the Valentine Cave which is one of 300 in the area. The way that lava caves are formed is when an eruption happens the top of the lava solidifies but the lava underneath keeps flowing. When all the lava has drained out it leaves a hollow cave behind. There is also a type of chemical cave where chemical waste has caused fast erosion. There are stalactites and stalagmites that form in limestone caves. They are made when water containing calcite drips from the ceiling of the cave. Stalactites hang down from the ceiling while stalagmites rise from the floor. |
Stalactites and stalagmites form in limestone caves (below). |