Speleology
5 questions tagged Speleology — spanning every one of the seven Ws.
Why do stalactites and stalagmites grow in caves?
They grow because mineral-rich water drips through cave ceilings and leaves behind calcite when carbon dioxide escapes. Over time, tiny deposits build into large cave formations.
Which is the largest cave chamber known on Earth?
Sơn Đoòng Cave in Vietnam contains the world’s largest known cave chamber by volume. Its main passage is so huge that it has its own jungle and river system.
Which is the deepest cave known on Earth?
Veryovkina Cave in Georgia is currently regarded as the deepest known cave on Earth. Its surveyed depth exceeds 2,200 meters.
Why do some caves contain stalactites and stalagmites?
They form when mineral-rich water drips through a cave and leaves behind calcite. Over thousands of years, drip by drip, the deposits grow into cave formations.
When was the first cave formed by dissolved limestone scientifically explained?
Cave formation by dissolution was explained in modern terms in the 19th century as karst geology developed.