How are caves formed?
What are Caves: Caves are natural cavities in large rocks. Most caves are formed because water runs through them and dissolves portions of them forming a hollow path which is called as cave. This scientific name of this phenomena is called water erosion. However some caves are also formed because of volcanic activity when lava flows through them and a few others by earth’s natural movement like earthquakes. Often underground streams and repeated flow of slightly acidic rain water causes soft rock like limestone to dissolve. In common reference caves are big enough for humans to enter and are mainly horizontal. It can take thousands of years for small gaps to become big enough to be called as ‘caves’. Most caves made by humans are called tunnels. What kind of animals and plants live in caves: Shallow caves (less long caves) provide an excellent shelter for animals, both small and big ones. You can find bears, wolves, bugs, bats, dung-beetles, glow worms, grasshoppers, spiders, worms, fi
Getting Started How can you “see” when the lights go out? Many animals in caves are blind because there is no light. How do they navigate? Set up your own touch tunnel* to see if you can navigate a room obstacle course strictly by feel. Can your other senses help you find the way? Have you ever been inside a cave? How deep was it? Could you see any light? What did it look like? What did it smell like? What did the walls feel like? Was there any life in the cave? How do you think caves are formed? Do you think all caves are the same? How many different plants and animals do you think can live in caves? What are some differences between these plants and animals and those living outdoors? Overview Caves have long been regarded as places of mystery and intrigue. Prehistoric people used them for shelter and decorated them with some of the earliest-known works of art. Pirates used them to hide their ill-gotten booty. By definition, a cave is simply a natural open space found underground. Som
