Cave

Lechuguilla Cave, New Mexico, United States

A cave or cavern is a natural void under the Earth's surface.[1] Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. Exogene caves are smaller openings that extend a relatively short distance underground (such as rock shelters). Caves which extend further underground than the opening is wide are called endogene caves.[2][3]

Speleology is the science of exploration and study of all aspects of caves and the cave environment. Visiting or exploring caves for recreation may be called caving, potholing, or spelunking.

  1. ^ "cave". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/OED/8886318356. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  2. ^ Moratto, Michael J. (2014). California Archaeology. Academic Press. p. 304. ISBN 9781483277356.
  3. ^ Lowe, J. John; Walker, Michael J. C. (2014). Reconstructing Quaternary Environments. Routledge. pp. 141–42. ISBN 9781317753711.