Spelunking

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Spelunking

• Exploring and understanding caves

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How are caves formed?

• There are two main ways that caves can be formed
• In Limestone areas, caves can be made by chemical
  erosion. Like in this animation
• In many volcanoes, when lava retreats from vents,
  it leaves a lava tube cave.

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Parts of a cave

• The entrance to a cave is called the caves mouth
• The two most interesting and sometimes beautiful
  structures in a cave are stalactites and
  stalagmites.
• The ground you walk on in a cave is the cave
  floor.

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Stalactites and Stalagmites
ltStalactite

• It is very easy to confuse the two similar
  sounding formations in a cave.
• Stalactites hold tite (tight) to the roof
• Stalagmites sit on the ground

ltStalagmite
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What you will see

• The cave that we will explore is not as large or
  as well lit as most of those in these pictures.
  Both mouths are rather small.
• You will not have much opportunity to get lost,
  there are no long side tunnels
• The roof of the cave is limestone that has been
  nearly completely compressed into marble.
• You will want your own light, even a small one
  will do, at least to see the floor in front of
  your feet.

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Spelunking

• Spelunking is the sport of cave exploration
• Most spelunkers do it as a hobby, like rock
  climbing or kayaking.
• A spelunker will have a strong light, a head
  lamp, heavy boots, and a lot of rope in case they
  have to drop down a hole in the cave.