The following outline provides an overview of and topical guide to natural caves. This loosely defined term includes many types of subterranean cavities, but most commonly refers to a natural opening large enough to be entered by a human.[1] These landforms are common around the world, and have even been detected on the Moon and Mars. This outline's scope is limited to these natural formations, specifically excluding the rock-cut features which are often referred to as caves in Eastern Asia.
Worldwide, lava tubes, karst caves, and rock shelters are the most common varieties of cave. Karst caves typically form through dissolution of limestone by carbonic acid, but some caves, such as Lechuguilla, have instead been formed from the bottom up via sulfuric acid released from oil reservoirs.[2] Wherever exposed limestone is present these caves are likely to form. Lava tubes are common in volcanic areas, and form during effusive volcanic eruptions, serving as a conduit for lava to flow through. Both types can reach great lengths. Kazumra cave, the longest known lava tube, has nearly 41 miles or 66 kilometers of mapped passage, and the longest known cave, Mammoth cave, has over 426 miles of mapped passage as of 2024.[3][4][5] Many rock shelters are important scientific and archeological sites. As sheltered areas, they often served as temporary and more permanent homes for early humans and other members of the Homo genus, many of whom left behind both artifacts and remains.[6]
Many other types of caves exist, but are significantly less prevalent and require rarer environments to form.[7][8]
Caves are commonly linked to karstic and volcanic environments, and as such much of their geology is linked to these geologic contexts. Subterranean features and surface features are both highly dependent on geology. Karst caves tend to have water-based features, like waterfalls and rivers, while lava tubes contain their own set of features, many of which resemble igneous versions of karstic counterparts. Some are shared, like moonmilk and other calcite-based speleothems.[27][28]
Lava pillars - common feature in lava tubes and volcanic fields.[44]
Cave formations
Cave formations can take on two major forms, speleothems and speleogens. Speleothems are deposits of minerals that form after the initial cave passage is formed, often of calcite or other types of calcium carbonate.[45] Speleogens are exposed structures that have been eroded out of the rock, or patterns cut into the rock by the formation of the cave.[46]
Scallops - scoop-like indents in cave walls created by moving water.[54]
Human use of caves
The archeological record shows that humans have used caves for various purposes for hundreds of thousands of years. They have served as homes, refuges, and religious sites for many cultures across the world.[55] Because of this, they have had tremendous impacts on the understanding of humanity's past.[55] Today, caves are one of the few incompletely explored parts of the Earth, and offer unique challenges to both cavers and speleologists.[56]
Non-caving uses
Caves have been used as religious sites, and often hold spiritual significance.[57] While this makes up a significant amount of non-caving use, show caves are also popular.
Hands at the Cuevas de las Manos upon Río Pinturas, near the town of Perito Moreno in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina.
Caving, also known as spelunking or potholing, is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems. It is distinguished from speleology by lack of scientific intent, with a greater emphasis being placed on sightseeing and enjoyment.[63]
Although caving is a fairly safe activity compared to other activities that are sometimes classified as "extreme sports", accidents do occur.[88] These tend to be related to flooding, hypothermia, rock falls, falls, SRT accidents, or some combination of these.[89]
Alpazat cave rescue - occurred in March 2004 after six British soldiers became trapped in the Alpazat caverns in Mexico.[90]
↑ Whittow, John (1984). Dictionary of Physical Geography. London: Penguin, 1984, p. 291. ISBN0-14-051094-X.
↑ "Karst Window". Cambrian Foundation. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
↑ Boggs, Sam (2006). Principles of sedimentology and stratigraphy (4thed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall. pp.177, 181. ISBN0-13-154728-3.
↑ Farrant, Andy; Woods, Mark; Burt, Elaine; Pilkington, Sharon; Knight, John. Barron, Mark; Thomas, Joanna (eds.). "Quarrying and the environment". Foundations of the Mendips. British Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
↑ Mat, Mahmut (19 July 2024). "Lava Fields". Geology Science. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
↑ Grancolas, Jean-Philippe (2002). "Pierre Chevalier (1905-2001)"(PDF). Spéléo-dossiers: bulletin du CDS du Rhône (in French). Comité départemental de spéléologie du Rhône. pp.2–6. ISSN0755-8813.
↑ Cockcroft, Barry (Director) (1979). The Underground Eiger (Motion picture). England: Yorkshire Television.
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