Spelunking is the exploration of caves and other cave-like formations. Due to the various degrees of difficulty, the sport can be quite feasible for the average tourist as well as the most technically-trained outdoorsman. There are some caves that can simply be navigated by walking through them while some would need special equipment such as ropes, carabiners and other climbing equipment to make the scaling and rappelling safer and easier. There is such a vast variation among all the types of caves in nature.
The caves in Lascaux, France, have been famed for the horse drawings that have been found on its walls. The illustrations have made the scientific and anthropologic community buzz with enthusiasm because these artworks have been dated as old as the other artifacts from the Paleolithic period. The caves have always been open to the public, but it took the caving of four teenagers to find the paintings back in 1940. The post war period allowed for the growing industry of the area to showcase the amazing degree of artistry that went into the making of the painting. Unfortunately, due to high amount of human traffic, the paintings sustained massive damage due to the excess carbon dioxide. Caves usually have a special mix of gases that are not the same as the ones at sea level due to the interplay of various elements and chemicals that are present inside the cave itself.
There are also caves that have been used as hideouts during times of war and crisis. Many revolution leaders as well as the promoters of uprising have used caves as their refuge and safe houses during dangerous times. Hiding in these caves have allowed them to evade arrest or even buy time while putting the final touches to a grand plan of attack.
Religious leaders have also used caves in the making of shrines, such as grottos. There are many churches and other sites of worship that have been carved out of cave stone. This is quite a departure from the usual setup for churches but the faithful would always try to honor their deities and carry on with their religious obligation. While it’s not really that easy to go spelunking just to hear mass, at times when being Christian is considered as something that is treachery to the state, it would have been very logical for people to literally go underground and pray in secret.
Some cave tours also involve cave homes. In Loire Valley, residents used to reside in cave dwellings, called troglodyte homes. These made for low-cost dwellings, and were excellent shelter especially during wartime. Entire villages had been living in underground dwellings.
Whether you like going in caves for recreation, religion, art appreciation or whatever reason, caves are certainly a geological feature worth visiting. They offer us refuge from the routine of daily life and expose us to the different landscapes that we don’t see on the Earth’s surface. Caves remind us that the upper crust that we live on is just the tip of the iceberg when exploring our mysterious planet.
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