Table of Contents
What do cave explorers do?
Caving – also known as spelunking in the United States and Canada and potholing in the United Kingdom and Ireland – is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems (as distinguished from show caves). In contrast, speleology is the scientific study of caves and the cave environment.
How do you explore a cave safely?
Six tips for safe cave exploration
- Bring three sources of light when entering a cave.
- Always wear a helmet.
- Dress and plan for success.
- Carry food and water.
- Never go alone and make sure someone else knows you’ve gone.
- Go with experienced cavers.
What should I bring to cave exploration?
What to Bring Caving
- Helmet. You don’t necessarily have to get a caving specific helmet to go caving, but it is necessary to have something substantial on your head.
- Lighting. Three sources of light is the recommended minimum.
- Good Footwear.
- Warm and Suitable Clothes.
- Padding.
- Sustenance.
- Pack.
Where can I explore caves?
15 Incredible Caves to Explore in America
- Mammoth Cave (Kentucky)
- Meramec Caverns (Missouri)
- Carlsbad Caverns (New Mexico)
- Ruby Falls (Tennessee)
- Wind Cave (South Dakota)
- Kartchner Caverns (Arizona)
- Luray Caverns (Virginia)
- Niagara Cave (Minnesota)
What is the safest cave in the world?
1. Son Doong Cave (Hang Son Doong) | Quang Binh Province, Vietnam. Discovered in 1991 in the heart of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Son Doong Cave has developed into one of the safest and most popular caving holidays in Southeast Asia.
What equipment do speleologists use?
Depending on the type of cave and how long the cavers intend to be in the cave, they may also carry food, water, pee bottles, plastic baggies for feces, caving harness, a specialized caving rope, an ascender, and some very basic first-aid supplies.
How do caves form?
Caves are formed by the dissolution of limestone. Rainwater picks up carbon dioxide from the air and as it percolates through the soil, which turns into a weak acid. This slowly dissolves out the limestone along the joints, bedding planes and fractures, some of which become enlarged enough to form caves.