The Wonder of Caves

What is a cave?

• A cave is a natural underground chamber which has an opening to the surface.

• Can be on land or even under water

• Caves can be found in mountains, under the ocean and even among ice glaciers!

Famous Caves around the World

• Dragons Lair cave in Europe is famous because scientists found fossils of cave bears that lived 50,000 years ago.

• Blue Grotto is on the Island Capri in Italy.

• Waitomo is another cave in New Zealand

Dragons Lair Cave - Europe

The Blue Grotto Capri, Malta

Caves can be made of ice too!

Waitomo New Zealand

Stalactites

• Icicle shaped of rock hang from the roof of a cave.

Stalagmites

• Look like stalactites, but grow up from the floor of a cave.

Spelunking (or Caving)

• A sport where people explore caves using a variety of equipment.

• There are spelunking clubs all over the world and these clubs explore different caves together.

Pictures of Spelunking

• Cavers wear special equipment when exploring.

• Headlamps, safety helmets and boots are just

• some of the gear needed when caving.

Cave Diving

• Is similar to spelunking, but involves the use of special underwater equipment.

Cave Safety

• If you are going to explore caves on your own, take

• these basic caving precautions:

• NEVER GO ALONE!

• Take 3 sources of light.

• Wear a helmet with a chin strap

• Use rubber soled boots.

• Dress warmly.

• Take some energy food along

• Tell someone where you are going and your estimated time of return.

Wanna go caving?