The most famous caves The meaning of the words "karst cave". What it is

What is the meaning of the words "karst cave"? How did these beautiful natural objects form? You can find answers to these questions in this article. In addition, here we list the longest in the world (photos of these underground voids you can also see). Curiously, most of them are located in the United States.

A cave is ... The meaning of the words "karst cave"

These underground cavities from the most ancient times served as a dwelling for animals, as well as primitive people. They hid them from the cold and wild predators. Interestingly, caves have been found not only on Earth, but also on the Moon and Mars. Let us first find out the meaning of the words "karst cave".

This phrase consists of two parts: "cave" and "karst".

• A cave is any underground cavity natural origin.
• Karst is both a process and a result of the destruction (dissolution) of certain rocks aggressive (by chemical composition) groundwater.

The term "karst" itself comes either from the German word karst, or from the name of a plateau in Slovenia (Kras), where these natural phenomena appear especially strong.

What is a karst cave?

This type of caves is the most common among all other underground cavities. What is a karst cave and how is it formed?

There are two main definitions. According to the first, it is a natural cavity (emptiness) in the upper part of the earth's crust, which is connected to its surface by one or more entrances. According to the second definition, a karst cave is an underground cavity natural origin, which is not illuminated by the Sun, but is available for penetration from the outside.

The study of caves is carried out by a special science - speleology, the material for which is often mined by the so-called speleologists.

How are karst caves formed?

Caves of this type are formed due to, namely, due to the dissolution of rocks by water. It is worth noting that karst caves are present only in those regions of the Earth where unstable rocks occur, which are easily dissolved by water. Among these are gypsum, salt, chalk (kaolin), dolomite, marble and limestone.

Worse than all the others, limestone and marble are destroyed. Caves in these rocks are formed for a very long time. On the other hand, they are better preserved than others. For example, gypsum caves very often collapse and collapse.

An important role in the formation of underground voids is played not only by the chemical composition of water (it should contain an increased concentration of carbon dioxide), but also by the presence of cracks and extended faults in the earth's interior. They tend to be the centerlines along which caves form.

Most of of the studied caves are systems of the relict type. This means that the water has already left these underground cavities. Nevertheless, it is she who acts as the sculptor who forms the internal "micro-relief" of the cave. saturated with sulfates and carbonates, deposits them on the walls, floors and vaults of underground cavities. This is how what we call is formed. Very often, these growths take on strange and bizarre forms that look even more unusual in the darkness.

Main types of caves

According to the mechanism of genesis (formation), in addition to karst, there are also tectonic, volcanic, erosional, and glacial caves.

Underground cavities are also classified by size (by total length and depth), as well as by the type of rocks in which they are formed. So, there are caves:

• limestone;
• plaster;
• chalky;
• salt;
• caves in conglomerates and so on.

TOP 5 longest caves on the planet

Four of the five longest caves in the world are located in the United States, and one more is in Ukraine.

(about 630 km) - the longest cave system Earth. It was formed in limestone 10 million years ago. Every year the length of the cave increases, as speleologists explore its new corridors.

Jewel Cave (257 km) - located near the city of Custer. Her unique feature are calcite crystals that cover the walls of all underground corridors in a thick layer.

Cave Optimisticheskaya (231 km) - a multi-level network of labyrinths in Ukraine (in the Ternopil region), the largest underground system in Eurasia. Formed in gypsum.

Wind Cave (217 km) is another American wonder of nature, which is known for its honeycomb-like patterns on the vaults.

Cave Lechugia (207 km) - a gypsum cave in the USA (New Mexico), calling card which are unusual "chandelier" formations, reaching up to 5-6 meters in diameter.

Conclusion

Well, now you know the meaning of the words "karst cave". This is an underground cavity of natural origin, which has one or more exits to the surface. All caves are classified by speleologists according to size, mechanism of genesis, as well as according to the rocks in which they are laid (formed).

Caves are the last unexplored frontier of our planet, mysterious world, which only the most desperate daredevils dare to look into. Labyrinths stretch for miles under our feet underground caves and tunnels. Today the caves remain the most little explored places on the planet, and yet people rarely manage to descend into the dark dungeons first. The strangest and least known animals on Earth already live here...

Postojna Yama, Slovenia
Caves can be divided according to their origin into five groups. These are tectonic caves, erosion caves, ice caves, volcanic caves, and, finally, the most large group, karst caves. Caves, in the entrance part, with suitable morphology (horizontal spacious entrance) and location (close to water) were used by ancient people as comfortable dwellings.

Most of these caves. It is karst caves that have the greatest length and depth. Caves are formed due to the dissolution of rocks by water. Therefore, karst caves are found only where soluble rocks occur: limestone, marble, dolomite, chalk, as well as gypsum and salt.
Limestone, and even more so marble, dissolves very poorly with pure distilled water. The solubility increases several times if dissolved water is present in the water. carbon dioxide(and it is always dissolved in water, in nature), however, limestone still dissolves slightly, compared to, say, gypsum or, moreover, salt. But it turns out that this has a positive effect on the formation of extended caves, since gypsum and salt caves not only quickly form, but also quickly collapse.


Leak formations in Katerloch Cave, Austria.

Such caves can arise in any rocks as a result of the formation of tectonic faults. As a rule, such caves are found in the sides of river valleys deeply cut into the plateau, when huge rock masses break off from the sides, forming sagging cracks (sherlops). Seizure cracks usually wedge together with depth. Most often they are covered with loose deposits from the surface of the massif, but sometimes they form rather deep vertical caves, up to 100 m deep. Sherlops are widespread in Eastern Siberia. They are relatively poorly studied, and probably occur quite often.

Caves formed in insoluble rocks due to mechanical erosion, that is, worked out by water containing grains of solid material. Often such caves are formed on the seashore under the action of the surf, but they are small. However, the formation of caves, worked out along the primary tectonic cracks by streams going underground, is also possible. Quite large (hundreds of meters long) erosional caves are known, formed in sandstones and even granites.

Lava cave, Hawaii.

These caves are formed during volcanic eruptions. The lava flow, cooling down, is covered with a solid crust, forming a lava tube, inside of which molten rock is still flowing. After the eruption has already, in fact, ended, the lava flows out of the tube from the lower end, and a cavity remains inside the tube. It is clear that lava caves lie on the very surface, and often the roof collapses. However, as it turned out, lava caves can reach very large sizes, up to 65.6 km long and 1100 m deep (Kazumura Cave, Hawaiian Islands).

A typical gallery in Mammoth Cave, Kentucky.


It's funny, but mammoths have never been found in the cave. Just English word mammoth also means "huge". Back in the 19th century, this cave was discovered in Kentucky under the Flint Ridge. At first, saltpeter was mined in it, but one day the deposits were depleted and a certain entrepreneur bought that place. With the help of servants, he tried to explore the depths of the dungeon, but failed. By the beginning of the 20th century, as many as 5 tiers and more than 200 grottoes, galleries and passages were discovered in the cave. Their total length was as much as 500 kilometers! End of this underground country so still not found. But the Mammoth Cave cannot boast of special beauties or miracles. Its arches consist of red limestone, which practically does not form streaks, so there are fewer figured stalactites than in other caves, much more modest in size. Although the visual range is poor, the places are called loudly - one of the corridors is called Broadway, and the underground river is called Styx. However, there is something that guides are happy to demonstrate to guests - stone sculpture, reminiscent of the profile of the mother of President George Washington. So that tourists do not leave their autographs on the walls, they are given a special Hall of Records. Respectable guests can leave not a wall inscription, but a respectable business card. From largest city Kentucky, Louisville can be reached by car in 4-5 hours, and the closest city in the cave is the city of Brownsville

241,595 m - length -192.6 m - depth

232,000m-length -15.0 m-depth All speleologists in the world know the Optimistic Cave, and it is not surprising - in terms of the length of the labyrinth, this is the largest cave on the continent and the second largest in the world after the American system Flint-Rich and Mammoth.


218 450m-length -193.9m-depth (Wind Cave), cave in the north in the north-east. foothills rocky mountains(Black Hills Mountains), South. Dakota (USA). Entrance at the bottom of Wind Cave Canyon. Known since 1881. The natural entrance has a diameter of 0.35 m; a shaft with an elevator was built for sightseers. A voluminous labyrinth with a dense network of galleries. The length is over 120 km, the elevation difference is 172 m. The cave is worked out in limestone thermal waters rich in minerals. Equipped for excursions.

209 600m-length -488.9m-depth Lechuguilla (eng. Lechuguilla) - a cave in the national park carlsbad caves. One of the longest caves in the world (210 km) and the deepest cave in the continental United States (−489 m). The cave is unique in its origin and variety of crystalline mineral deposits. The name of the cave corresponds to the name of the canyon in which the entrance is located, and that, in turn, is named after the Latin name of the common local species agaves (Agave lechuguilla).

183 600 m-length -108.5 m-depth (Fisher Ridge), labyrinth-type karst cave in the ridge. Fisher in zap. foothills of the Appalachians, Kentucky (USA). Has three entrances. The length is more than 113 km, the height difference is 60 m. Numerous int. wells connect a multi-level complex of galleries. The river is drained. Green River. Known since 1981. The edge passages are only 250 m east of mammoth cave. Visited by natives 800-1200 years ago.
Ox Bel Ha,Mexico
182 150 m-length -33.5 m-depth Bull Bel Ha (Mayan meaning "three ways of water"; officially System Ox Bel Ha) is a cave system in Quintana Roo, Mexico. It is the longest explored underwater cave in the world.

175 664 m-length -355.1 m-depth

- a cave in the Western Caucasus, which is the second deepest cave in the world (-1753 mi, considered the most difficult in the territory of the former USSR and the most difficult siphon-free cave in the world. It is located in one of the spurs of the Bzybsky ridge in the thickness of reef Jurassic limestones.

Three large underground waterfalls: Irkutsk (the height of the two knees of the waterfall is 45 m), Record (25 m) and Olympic (32 m). A giant blocky collapse in the bottom part is the blockage of the Metrostroy, 127 m high. Most of the route to the bottom part passes along an underground river (the length is more than 7 km, the water flow in low water is from 50 l / s in the upper reaches, up to 200 l / s in the bottom part) . The Diamond Gallery is a side passage of the cave at a depth of 750 m, covered with large gypsum crystals for 100 m. Flower way - a passage in a blocky blockage, covered with white crystals

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New Athos cave is a formation in karst rocks in Abkhazia, it is included in the list giant caves in the world.
The ancient abyss on the side of the mountain is called the abyss by many, it was studied in 1961. mini-expedition (4 people). Soon the New Athos cave gained fame, and tourists began to head towards it.

The New Athos cave consists of 9 large cavities, where tourists come. They are attracted by interesting formations inside, similar to skulls, figures, etc. The New Athos cave is interesting, as we have already said, for its size, as well as the legends associated with it, for example, that angels once lived in it.

Big Oreshnaya Cave is largest cave Russia by the length of passages and the volume of underground spaces. This is the largest conglomerate cave on the planet. The conglomerates consist of boulders and pebbles of variously colored limestones and dolomites cemented with reddish-brown calcareous sandstone. They are of variable strength and porosity, subject to dissolution and collapse, to the point of becoming a sticky, reddish brown, sandy clay.

- a cave in the Urupsky district of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. The most deep cave in the territory Russian Federation. Depth - about 900 m. Length - about 3000 m. (The cave has not been fully explored, so these figures can be increased).
The entrance to the cave is located in the upper reaches of the river. Atsgara, which is the first right tributary of the river. Urup is a hole in the ledge of a ruined limestone rock ledge. The absolute height mark of the entrance is 2825 m above sea level.
Discovered and first examined in August 1994 by a group of speleologists from Rostov-on-Don, Cherkessk and Donetsk

Genetically, the cave can be attributed to the class of corrosion-erosion caves. Morphologically, it is a series of wells (the most significant is the Grand Prix, 65 m deep), alternating with small sub-horizontal passages. Starting from a depth of -630 m (from the Magnitny Hall), the path through the cave runs through the blockage with a vertical amplitude of about 200 m. ).

Ordinskaya cave - located on the eastern outskirts of the village of Orda Perm Territory, on the left bank of the river. Kungur. It is embedded in gypsum and anhydrite of Permian age. Consists of "dry" and underwater parts. The length of the dry part is 300 meters, underwater - 4600 meters. To date Orda cave is the longest flooded cave in Russia. In addition, part of the cave is the longest siphon in the CIS - 935 meters.

The Orda Cave is located in the bowels of Kazakovskaya Gora, a hill with a plateau-like flat top, skirted by the Kungur River. The height of the hill does not exceed 50 m. On its surface there are large sinkholes, in one of which, located on the southern steep slope, is the entrance to the cave

Dolganskaya Yama and Dolphin caves are wintering grounds for bats. Here is the most numerous [source not specified 83 days] colony of wintering bats in Siberia (more than 2000 individuals).
The Dolgan karst system is the only known complex of voids in Russia in permafrost with a year-round positive temperature. It is a testing ground for geological, biological, paleontological, hydrogeological, glaciological, microclimatic and geomorphological observations. Studied since late 1970s

Rock paintings in Lascaux cave, France.
Primitive people used caves all over the world as a dwelling. Even more often, animals settled in the caves. Many animals died in the cave-traps, starting from steep wells. The extremely slow evolution of caves, their constant climate, and protection from the outside world have preserved a huge number of archaeological finds to us. These are pollen of fossil plants, bones of long-extinct animals (cave bear, cave hyena, mammoth, woolly rhinoceros), rock paintings of ancient people (Kapov caves on Southern Urals, Divya in the Northern Urals, Tuzuksu in the Kuznetsk Alatau), tools of their labor (villages Strashnaya, Okladnikova, Kaminnaya on Altai-human remains of different cultures, including Neanderthals, up to 50-200 thousand years old (Teshik-Tash cave in Uzbekistan, Denisova cave in Altai, Cro-Magnon in France and many others) Caves may have played the role of modern cinemas Water in the caves
Water, as a rule, is found in many caves, and karst caves owe their origin to it. In the caves you can find drops, streams and rivers, lakes and waterfalls. Siphons in caves often complicate movement, require special equipment and special training. Often there are underwater caves. Air in the caves
In most caves, the air is breathable due to natural air circulation, although there are caves in which you can only be in gas masks. For example, guano deposits can spoil the air. cave deposits
There are mechanical (clay, sand, pebbles, boulders) and chemogenic deposits (stalactites, stalagmites, etc.).
Some caves are equipped for visiting tour groups(the so-called showcavesFor this, in the part of the cave, the most spacious and rich sinter formations, walkways, ladders, bridges are laid, electric lighting is created, in some cases, if the entrance part of the cave is a technically difficult area, tunnels are made. On the territory of the former USSR, the most famous caves are Marble in the Crimea, Kungurskaya in the Urals, Novoafonskaya in Abkhazia.

All the beauty opens up if you go down a little below the recession of the water, where a narrow valley of decent depth has formed, from which you can see the holes leading to the Sablinsky caves. Surprising is the fact that all Sablinsky caves are of anthropogenic origin, looking at them, it is impossible to assume this. However, this is true - the Sablinsky caves were created in the process of making glass, they were dug out, because the glass industry needed a lot of sand. This explains the similarity internal device, which, by the way, does not detract from their merits at all.

This cave complex also includes Pigeon Cave and Yale Coba. Once, in 1825, this cave was visited by the famous Russian playwright A.S. Griboyedov, one of the lower corridors of the cave is named after him.

One of the most beautiful and famous caves in the CIS are

Kungur caves, so named because of the city of Kungur, located in Perm region. The Kungur caves are the real dwelling of the Snow Queen - covered with ice and hoarfrost, they leave an indelible impression of themselves.


Kungur caves attract many tourists, who later tell about huge icicles, about feeling like in a real fairy tale, about how, opening their mouths with admiration, they wandered along the passages.


Kungur cave is one of huge caves on Earth and the only cave in the Russian Federation specially designed for tourists. This incredible natural object, surrounded by many legends, is located in the Urals, between Perm and Yekaterinburg. Researchers claim that the Kungur cave is almost 10-12 thousand years old.

Kapova cave is located in old rock in Bashkortostan, where ancient drawings dating back to the Paleolithic have been preserved. The Kapova Cave was first discovered in the middle of the 18th century, but it was examined in detail already in the middle of the 20th century, when huge galleries with cave paintings were found.


The age of this cave with an underground river is more than 2 million years. It was discovered and explored by the leader of the Maori tribe, Tane Tinorau, and the English surveyor Fred Mays in 1887.





Salt caves have been known for a long time, but it was in the UK that the first artificial salt cave.
The gentle sounds of the waves on the shore, the reassuring rustle of sand under your feet, the invigorating freshness of the salty air. Closing your eyes, you can imagine yourself on the beach. Open them and look around - there is a salt cave around you, and you are not sitting on sand, but on salt, salt on the walls, and in the air, and everywhere.

Dolgorukov massif


The caves are a system with a length of 2.5 km and are not deep, only 25 meters. Opened by the founder of speleology Edouard Alfred Martel.


In 1935, classical music concerts began to be organized here, after lighting was installed and an electric imitation of dawn over water was created.

Along with the usual route to Cango, you can also take the so-called "Adventure Tour" through hard-to-reach passages.

There are over 150 limestone caves in Bermuda, but the most famous are the Crystal Caves. They got their name from the crystal clean water flowing under their vaults. The water is so clear that you can even see the bottom of the caves, the depth of which sometimes reaches 17 meters.
It is believed that the caves were formed during ice ages when the sea level was 100-130 meters lower. Rain water seeped through the soil, and the resulting underground stream with high acidity dissolved the limestone. As a result of this process, voids appeared in the caves. The dripping water formed stalactites and stalagmites.
When the water level in the seas rose, these voids were filled sea ​​water, and the formation of caves stopped.

This cave system is located in the Blue Mountains. The natives call them "Binumea" - which means "Dark Places". They believed in the healing properties of the water of the underground river and brought sick people here.


The widest and highest cave "Lukas" is the most visited. The entrance fee to each cave is taken separately, and than harder route- the more expensive.

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The present underworld- this is how you can describe the cave of the Yellow Dragon, which is located in famous nature reserve Zhangjiajie. Lighting is installed everywhere here, which gives this place a simply unreal look. One gets the impression that you are visiting some fairy-tale character.
The cave itself is very large, with several levels, each with its own unique illumination. At the bottom there is a river that you can go down by boat. We are sure you will remember this trip for the rest of your life!

The cave is located in a remote area of ​​the Selma plateau, about 1600 m above sea level, in Oman. It was discovered in 1983 by Don Davidson, a geologist who studied water resources. Davidson died ten years later, leaving Oman for good to go hiking in the Andes. He rented a car and left a note saying where he was going. Nobody ever saw him again.


By the name of the limestone plateau "Kras" (Karst) in Slovenia are called all the karst caves in the world. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Škocjan Caves are the most enchanting sight on this plateau.


Majestic karst grottoes, 30 waterfalls and a 2.5 km deep underground gorge are part of this cave system. Its total length is 6 km.

Here you can see: fantastic calcite columns and stalagmites in the "Cave of the Winds", and an underground river 108 km long in the "Cave of Pure Water".


IN " Deer Cave", thanks to a hole in the ceiling, a piece of land appeared covered with lush vegetation, illuminated by the sun. This place is called -" Garden of Eden ".

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"Giant ice world"- this is the name of this cave system, which is located 40 km from Salzburg, translated from German. They were first explored in 1879 by scientist Anton Posselt. Since then, the Eisriesenwelt caves have become one of the most popular tourist spots, which is visited annually by about 200 thousand people.


Pride national park USA in New Mexico - Carlsbad Caves have long been known in the world of travelers. First of all, they are appreciated for their stunning stalactite sculptures of the most extraordinary form and unique grottoes! What is only the grotto of the Green Lake, in which the water is of a malachite color.

But people who are terribly afraid of bats are unlikely to like these caves, because there are about seventeen species of them here!

LITERATURE

CAVES CLASSIFICATION, KARST PHENOMENA AND CAVEL FORMATION

TYPES OF CAVES

There are caves (in terms of origin - speleogenesis):

- natural (karst, etc.),

- artificial (anthropogenic - catacombs, quarries; examples: near Moscow: Silicates, Syany, Kiseli, Volodar, Nikita; in Crimea: Sevastopol, Kerch; in Odessa: Odessa). There are underground cities and temples: Chufut-Kale (Bakhchisaray, Crimea), Kiev Pechersk Lavra, etc. There are also modern underground structures and communications - they are dealt with by "diggers" - they are not speleologists.

Natural caves are:

- karst (in karst rocks),

- underground cavities in non-karsting rocks associated with mountain building processes (tectonic processes).

Cavities in non-karsting rocks :

- niches, cracks, faults and faults hidden or having access to the surface in granites, basalts, diorites and other rocks insoluble in water, which were formed during the period of movements of the earth's crust. These are very rarely observed small cavities, usually filled with water.

- caves of volcanic origin: tunnels and corridors in frozen lava flows - from above, lava cools and hardens faster in contact with air, inside it flows, forming cavities. Speleology is mainly concerned with karst caves.

Karst caves

Word karst- a distorted Slovenian (and Slovak) word KRAS - a proper name - the name of a mountainous region in Slovenia, where there are many caves. Other caves of this type began to be called by this name. Karst rocks are the rocks that make up the upper part of the earth's crust, which, to one degree or another, can dissolve in water (they are subjected to leaching).

The main karst rocks:

- Limestone - calcium carbonate Ca2CO3,

- Dolomite is a mixture of limestone with magnesium carbonate Mg2CO3,

- Gypsum - calcium sulfate Ca2SO4,

- Rock salt NaCl,

Ice H2O.

There are also various subspecies of karst rocks that are mentioned in the literature (and, of course, are found in practice):

- marl limestones (include aluminosilicate deposits, alumina),

- conglomerates (mixtures of karst and non-karst rocks), etc.

About limestones, as the most common karst rock:

They come in different ages: Cambrian, Permian, Jurassic, Cretaceous, etc.

In addition, limestones are:

- massive (clean) - these karst well,

- layered (large and small) - these karst the worse, the finer the layer,

- marbled (recrystallized) - karst worse.

The two classic karst rocks are limestone and gypsum. These rocks are often referred to as sedimentary, which emphasizes their supposed origin: the result of biogenic sediment in the waters of ancient seas.

HYPOTHESIS ON THE ORIGIN OF KARST REGIONS

Namely, there is a hypothesis that:

- in ancient times, 300-400 million years ago, a process of growth and death of living organisms took place in sea water, intensively using calcium to build their shells. The water was a saturated solution of calcium carbonate. Dead shells sank to the bottom and accumulated along with sediments precipitating out of solution as a result of climatic changes;

- over millions of years, limestone mass accumulated at the bottom in layers;

- under pressure, the limestone sediment changed its structure, turning into a stone lying in horizontal layers;

- at the moment of movements of the earth's crust, the sea receded, and the former bottom became land;

- Two scenarios were possible for the development of events: 1) the layers remained almost horizontal and untorn (as near Moscow) PICTURE 5.and 2) the bottom protruded forming mountains, while the integrity of the limestone layers was violated, numerous transverse cracks and faults formed in them. PICTURE 6. This is how the future karst area was formed.

This hypothesis is confirmed by the finds of the remains of ancient shells and other former living organisms in the thickness of limestones. Be that as it may, it is obvious that the caves and the rocks where they form are closely connected with ancient life on Earth.

CONDITIONS FOR THE FORMATION OF CAVES.

There are three main conditions for the formation of karst caves:

- Presence of karst rocks.

- The presence of mountain building processes, movements of the earth's crust in the zone of distribution of karst rocks, as a result - the presence of cracks in the thickness of the massif.

- Presence of aggressive circulating waters.

Without any of these conditions, cave formation will not occur. However, these necessary conditions may be superimposed by local features of the climate, the relief structure, and the presence of other rocks. All this leads to the appearance of caves of various types. Even in one cave there are various "composite" elements that are formed in different ways. The main morphological elements of karst caves and their origin.

Morphological elements of karst caves:

- vertical abysses, shafts and wells,

- horizontally inclined caves, and meanders,

halls,

Labyrinths.

These elements arise depending on the type of disturbances in the thickness of the karst massif.

Types of violations:

1. Faults and faults,

2. Cracks:

bedding,

- on the border of karst and non-karst rock,

- tectonic (usually transverse),

- so-called lateral cracks.

Scheme of the formation of vertical elements of caves (wells, mines, abysses):

Leaching.

Wells are formed at the intersection of tectonic cracks - in the most mechanically weak point of the massif. This is where precipitation water is absorbed. And slowly dissolves the limestone; over millions of years, water expands cracks, turning them into wells. This is a zone of vertical circulation of groundwater.

Nival wells(from array surface):

In winter, the cracks are clogged with snow, then it slowly melts, this is aggressive water, it intensively erodes and expands the cracks, forming wells from the surface of the earth.

Formation of horizontally inclined passages:

Water, penetrating through the layer (layer) of karst rock, reaches the bedding crack and begins to spread along it along the plane of the "fall" of the layers. There is a process of leaching, a subhorizontal course is formed. Then the water will reach the next intersection of tectonic cracks and again a vertical well or ledge will form. Finally, the water will reach the border of karsting and non-karsting rocks and then spread only along this border. Usually an underground river is already flowing here, there are siphons there. This is a zone of horizontal circulation of groundwater.

Hall formation.

The halls are found in fault zones - large mechanical disturbances in the massif. The halls are the result of alternating processes of mountain building, leaching, and again mountain building (earthquakes, landslides).

It happens that additional mechanisms are included:

- mechanical removal of rock fragments by water flows,

- the action of pressure thermal waters (New Athos cave).

Formation of horizontal labyrinths.

The leaching process occurs along a "grid" of tectonic cracks. A typical example is the gypsum caves of Western Ukraine. The named mechanisms of formation of structural elements (morphology) of caves are common for all types of karst rocks.

In general, we can say that the karst massif is a "sieve" that sifts through precipitation and flowing waters. All karst caves - both vertical and horizontal - are channels for the natural drainage of water in the karst massif. The result of this circulation is the indispensable release of groundwater to the surface - in the form of obvious or hidden sources, including submarine ones.

This report is available in high definition.

People very rarely explore the vast and unexplored, but not National Geographic photographer Stephen Alvarez, who has been exploring and photographing the largest and deepest caves in the world throughout his career.

Cave exploration by Stephen Alvarez.

A cave is a cavity in the ground that communicates with the surface by one or more inlets. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

The largest caves are complex systems of passages and halls, often with a total length of up to several tens of kilometers. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

Caves according to their origin can be divided into 5 groups: tectonic, erosional, ice, volcanic and, finally, the largest group - karst. Let's talk about them in more detail. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

(Photo by Steven Alvarez):

As already mentioned, the vast majority of caves - karst. It is these caves that have the greatest length and depth. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

Karst caves are formed due to the dissolution of rocks by water, so they are found only where there are soluble rocks: limestone, marble, chalk, gypsum or salt. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

Tectonic caves can occur in any rocks as a result of the formation of tectonic faults. They are found in the sides of river valleys deeply cut into the plateau, when huge massifs of rock break off from the sides, forming cracks. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

These fissures sometimes form quite deep vertical caverns up to 100 meters deep. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

3rd type of caves - erosion. They are formed in the rocks due to mechanical, that is, "cut" by water containing grains of solid material. Often such caves are formed on the seashore under the action of the surf, but they are small. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

Spectacular ice caves are formed in the body of glaciers by melt water. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

Melt water forms passages, sometimes passable for humans. The length of such caves can be several hundred meters, the depth - up to 100 meters or more. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

Also, ice caves can be formed in the glacier at the exit point of underground thermal springs located under the glacier. Hot water can create voluminous galleries in the ice. Thermal ice caves are found in Iceland, Greenland and reach quite large sizes. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

The last type is volcanic caves. They occur during volcanic eruptions. The lava flow, cooling down, is covered with a hard crust, forming a lava tube. After the end of the eruption, lava flows out of the tube from the lower end, leaving a cavity inside the tube. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

Lava caves can be very large, up to 65.6 km long and 1,100 m deep. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

In addition to lava tubes, there are vertical volcanic caves - the vents of volcanoes. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

The living world of the caves is not very rich, however, some animals are found here. Firstly, these are bats that use caves as shelter or for wintering. Moreover, bats often fly into remote and hard-to-reach places in caves, navigating well in narrow labyrinth passages. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

In addition to bats, insects, spiders, shrimps, salamanders and fish live in some caves. All cave species adapt to complete darkness, and many of them lose their organs of vision. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

As is known from history, primitive people used caves all over the world as a dwelling. Even more often, animals settled in the caves. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

Usually water is found in many caves, and karst caves owe their origin to it. Often there are beautiful ones. We have already talked about them in detail. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

(Photo by Steven Alvarez):

In most caves, the air is breathable, although there are caves where you can only be in gas masks. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

In addition to caves, which by definition have access to the surface, there are closed underground cavities in the earth's crust. The deepest underground cavity with a length of 2,950 meters was discovered by drilling on the coast of Cuba. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

In, except for the Earth, caves were found on and. (Photo by Steven Alvarez):

(Photo by Steven Alvarez):

(Photo by Steven Alvarez):

(Photo by Steven Alvarez):

A large number of secrets and mysteries are always associated with caves, because this is a whole world of magic, silence and silence. Even in ancient times, caves were used to shelter humans and animals, and some were even considered the abode of the gods. In nature, there are no two identical caves, because some have lakes, others have halls with grottoes, wells, glaciers and waterfalls. For many thousands of years, rainwater has destroyed the stone, forming stalactites and stalagmites of bizarre shape. In some caves, calcite is formed in the form of pearls, flowers, thin twigs, crumbling at the slightest touch. We present to your attention a rating of the most amazing and beautiful caves in the world.

1Giant Crystal Cave, Mexico

A cave of giant crystals in Mexico was discovered by ordinary miners who were working in the south of the country. At the depth of a three-hundred-meter mine, they discovered a cave, literally strewn with huge crystals from the inside. The crystals in the caves are translucent, and their color varies from bright white to golden. The crystals are rectangular or cylindrical in shape, and their length reaches several meters. The base of the cave is stone, which indicates its ancient origin. The huge crystals in it were formed by nature over several million years. Apparently, the room of the Crystal Cave was previously filled with rock, which was gradually washed away by underground waters, after which such unusual formations remained.

2. Na Pali Coast Cave in Kauai, Hawaii

The Hawaiian island of Kauai was formed over 5 million years ago as a result of volcanic activity in the area. One of the most spectacular sights of the island is the coast of Na Pali. Here, the rocks practically hang over the sea, and exotic plants grow on their surface and various birds nest. In addition to picturesque volcanic mountains and evergreen beaches, tourists are attracted here by mysterious caves. For many centuries, sea waves methodically carved volcanic rocks, thus forming the caves of Hawaii. In the caves you can enjoy virgin nature and sea views.

3. Melissani Cave, Greece

The Melissani cave, located on the Greek island of Kefalonia, was forgotten for several centuries and was remembered only in 1951, when the Greek Giannis Petrohelios again found and opened it. Indeed, even in Greek mythology, this cave was mentioned as the dwelling of the nymphs. The reason for such a violent fantasy of the ancient Greeks is quite understandable - the cave with its turquoise lake surrounded by dense forest looks truly fabulous. Melissani Cave has a stone base, on which there are shallow azure waters, at the top there is a huge stone dome with a huge hole through which sunlight enters deep into the cave, creating amazing reflections on its walls. The entrance to the Melissani cave is also very picturesque - it is overgrown with greenery, and the "door" is decorated with natural brownish stone "plaster".

4. Skocjan Caves, Slovenia

One of the most famous karst cave systems on our planet is the Škocjan Caves. On the beautiful Kras Plateau, located in the southwest of Slovenia, these wonderful caves are officially recognized as a nature reserve and a World Heritage Site. Shkocyansky caves owe their appearance to the local river with the name "River" flowing through it, which for centuries "cut down" the caves in karst deposits. However, as a result of water erosion, several arches of the cave collapsed, forming karst failures "Mala Dolina" and "Velika Dolina", separated by a natural bridge. On the territory of Velika Dolina, the River goes underground, appearing on the surface after 34 kilometers already in Italy. In addition, there are many dangerous funnels, dips and small waterfalls on the territory of the Shkocyan Caves. The largest European grotto, the Martel Hall, is also located in the caves.

5. Marble Caves in Chile Chico, Chile

High in the Andes is one of the deepest lakes in the world - Lago General Carrera (Chilean name) or Lago Buenos Aires (Argentinean name), since the lake is located on the border of Chile and Argentina. Not far from the Chilean city of Chile Chico are the famous Marble Caves. Although the walls of the caves are not made of marble at all, but of limestone, but against the background of turquoise water, its vaults, which have white and blue tones of color, look very impressive. Thanks to this natural beauty, thousands of tourists come to see the Marble Caves every year. Small pleasure boats bring tourists here, allowing you to see all the splendor of the shades of the cave, as well as look into the natural windows, as if melted in the walls of the labyrinth of the Marble Caves - boats can no longer drive there. In addition to the amazing Marble Caves, fishing lovers also come to the lake, because its waters are rich in trout and salmon, as well as some other types of fish.

6. Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, USA

Mammoth Cave is located in the US state of Kentucky. This unique karst cave has a unique microclimate. The cave was discovered about 4,000 years ago; the remains of ancient torches are still found in it. The cave was used by local tribes for various purposes. American scientists have discovered the mummy of a man who died in this cave more than 2,000 years ago. After numerous studies, scientists came to the conclusion that a person was engaged in gypsum mining here. A rare species of shrimp, crayfish and blind fish have been found in an underground river. In addition, flocks of bats live in the cave. Since the end of the 19th century, Mammoth Cave has become a tourist attraction, for which electric lighting was installed throughout its entire length. However, if you wish, you can walk through the cave as in ancient times - with a paraffin lamp.

7. Cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Cenotes are peculiar formations in caves that appear in the rocks under the influence of water. South of the Mexican resort of Cancun, located on the Yucatan Peninsula, is one of the most beautiful cenotes. According to some reports, in ancient times Yucatan was an underwater reef. After the water left, huge caves remained. The caves and grottoes of the Yucatan are completely underground. There are no land rivers on the peninsula - they all flow underground. Once upon a time, the Mayan peoples considered cenotes sacred and drank water from them during religious ceremonies. Tourists from all over the world come to the Yucatan to swim, dive and admire the underground scenery. And ancient stalactites and stalagmites make the underwater world truly fabulous. Through the cracks of the caves, sunlight penetrates into the cenotes, giving them a special beauty.

8. Blue Caves, Greece, Zakynthos Island

On Zakynthos, one of the largest Greek islands, there are amazing Blue Caves. Among tourists, the island has gained popularity due to its scenic area, including beaches and villages. In the village of Volimes is located the Blue Cave, which can only be reached through the sea, however, as well as to most of the island. If you visit the Blue Cave at sunset or sunrise, you can enjoy the blue color of the sky and ocean reflected in it. For many years of water erosion, the rocks have taken on the appearance of amazing natural arches. Due to the unusual light effects of the Blue Caves, this place is one of the most visited in Greece. In addition to the beautiful caves, Zakynthos has a famous beach, considered one of the best in the world.

9. Fingal's Singing Cave, Scotland

For many centuries on the island of Staffa (the island belongs to the group of the Inner Hebrides) in Scotland, the rains and the sea have formed one of the largest caves in the world - Fingal's Singing Cave. The cave owes its name to the famous Scottish poet James MacPherson. According to legend, the giant Fingal, in order to connect Scotland and Ireland, built a dam, along which a huge giant passed into his dwelling, while Fingal lay down to rest before the fight with him. However, his wife was resourceful and said that it was the baby, the son of Fingal, who was sleeping. The huge giant imagined the size of the father of this "baby" and fled in fear, destroying the dam behind him. According to legend, Staff Island is part of this dam. The second reason for this name of the cave is the Geltian meaning of the phrase "Cave of Melodies". The name was given to the cave due to the fact that during the surf, the cave hall repeatedly repeats the sounds of the sea, as if singing!

10 Skaftafell Ice Cave, Iceland

On the edge of glaciers, amazingly beautiful structures are often formed - ice caves. In Iceland, on the lagoon of the Svinafellsjokull glacier, there is the famous Skaftafell Cave. Over the past centuries, the glacier has compressed so much that it has almost no air bubbles, due to which almost all sunlight is absorbed, except for the blue fraction visible inside the cave with the naked eye. Although such blue ice is possible only when the upper layer of the glacier is washed away, for example, in winter. However, such light is found in floating icebergs and other ice caves. Skaftafell cave has a seven meter entrance on the shore. At the end of the cave narrows to one meter. However, it is not safe to visit ice caves, as they are constantly transforming and can collapse at any moment. Only in winter visiting such caves is relatively safe. As ice caves move with the glacier, crackles can often be heard inside them.