Kong Posh: Caves:

Sham S. Misri

Caves have long been linked with the history of man in many interesting ways. In Old Stone Age, caves were the winter dwelling place of the people who had no other shelter.

Long after man stopped using caves as homes, ancient people believed many strange things about caves. Greeks believed that the caves were the temples of their gods. The Romans thought that the caves were homes of nymphs. The ancient Persians associated the caves with the worship of chief of the earth spirits. Today huge and beautiful caves all over the world are the source of attraction.

Caves are deep hollow places in the rocky sides of hills or cliffs. Large caves are called “Caverns”. Caves are formed in many ways. Many caves have been hollowed out by constant beating of the sea waves against the rocks. Some caves appear under the surface of the earth. These are generally the old courses of underground streams which have worn away layers of soft rock such as lime stone. Others are formed by volcanic shifting of surface rocks, or by eruption of hot lava.

The most common cave is the one made by the wearing away of thick layers of limestone. This is done by the action of water containing carbon dioxide.

Some caves have openings through their roofs, called “sink holes.” These formed where the surface water first gathered and seeped down. Some caves have galleries in tiers or rows, one above another. Underground streams wind through some caves, though in many cases after a cave has been formed, the streams that once flowed through it may find a lower level and leave the cave dry. In many cases each drop of water that drips from the cave roof contains a bit of lime or other mineral matter. As part of water evaporates, some of this matter is left behind. It gradually forms a stalactite, shaped like an icicle hanging from the roof. Water dripping from the stalactite to the floor builds up a column called “a stalagmite.”

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