What
are Caves?
Caves have been
extremely useful and important to animals and people for millions of years.
Some caves show how our ancestors used to live.
Caves form in
limestone rocks over thousands of years when rainwater - which is a very
weak natural acid, gradually starts to dissolve the calcium carbonate minerals
in the rock.
Water drips down
or across any cracks in the rock breaking down the minerals then slowly
enlarging the narrow cracks into wide holes and tunnels.
Streams start
to flow into the cave wearing away more rock and fabulous features such
as stalagmites, stalactites,
columns and shawls start to form when the dissolved minerals are deposited
from drips of water.
When the water
level of the river flowing through the cave rises and falls, or when it
changes its course then the cave could be left flooded or dry for huge
periods of time.
Caves can also
reach extraordinary sizes - for example the largest cave located in South
East Asia is seven and a half hectares (about 15 full size
football fields!!!) The Jenolan Caves, which are west of Sydney are
our closest caves.
So next time you
step into a cave remember the huge cave you are in started with one dribble
of water.
Click HERE
to see our model of a cave.
