|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Their depths preserve the remains of ancient life and provide homes for unique animals, such as bats and blind fish. Water moving beneath the surface of the earth creates mineral formations of breathtaking beauty and delicacy, resulting in a strange subterranean world.
|
| |
|
Unfortunately, our nation's magnificent natural caverns are being thoughtlessly destroyed. The animals that dwell in caves are dying from pesticides and other surface pollutants. |
 |
| |
Photo Credit to: John MacGregor |
 |
Those
who don't understand their many benefits to people
purposely kill sometimes creatures such as bats.
|
| |
|
| Throughout America, millions of cave formations have been carelessly vandalized- formations, which are irreplaceable. |
 |
| |
Before |
| |
|
| |
After |
 |
Countless
archaeological sites have been ransacked, destroying
forever pages of the world's history. |
Photo
Credit to: Karl Niles |
|
|
| |
| Worst
of all, sinkholes- places where water on the surface
enters a cave system- are thought to be good places
to dispose of sewage, solid waste and other kinds
of dangerous and unhealthy materials. |
|
| |
|
 |
Such practices often poison entire underground stream systems, destroying the purity of vast supplies of groundwater- water essential for life and livelihoods in many rural areas. |
|
| |
What is a Cave?
A cave or cavern is any naturally occurring void, recess, or system of interconnecting passages beneath the earth. Caves underlie 20% of the United States. These unique and sensitive environments harbor rare animal life, fragile mineral formations and valuable ground water resources.
Cave formations, such as stalactites and stalagmites, take hundreds to thousands of years to form. These irreplaceable resources provide aesthetic enjoyment for cave visitors. Mineral deposits, such as onyx and amethyst clusters, also give caves their natural beauty.
Clues from past people and past cultures can be found in caves. Artifacts such as arrowheads, pottery, woven slippers and tools help archaeologists answer questions about how past cultures lived. Caves provided shelter and natural resources for prehistoric people. Rock carvings and mudglyphs inside caves also offer us insight into the lives of these people.
The underground cave wilderness provides a source of recreation for people that enjoy the dark, subterranean world. Visitors travel from all over the world to view caves' natural splendor, driven by curiosity of the unknown.
Prehistoric people have been entering and using caves for thousands of years. Only in the last hundred years have people begun scientifically studying caves and charting their depths. The science of studying caves is called speleology. Speleologists can be scientists or explorers studying the geology, hydrology, biology, or cartography of a cave. The study of caves gives us a better understanding of the earth and provides solutions for human problems.
Caves harbor a variety of wildlife, including many species of troglobites (animals adapted to living in the complete darkness of a cave). These unique animals contain no pigment in their skin and lack eyes. Other cave dwellers include crickets, salamanders and bats. Some endangered species of bats depend on caves for hibernation or for raising their young.
Cave Gates
The ACCA constructs and installs many cave gates each year at caves around the U.S. Cave gates are sometimes used to protect bats from disturbance. The gate is designed to allow bats to enter and exit freely, but prohibit human entrance to the cave. Cave gates are also used to protect archaeological sites and speleothems. Installing a cave gate can also prevent vandalism. To learn more about cave gates, click here.
|
| |
|
|
|
