What are Caves?
Caves are natural openings within the earth that usually extend deep beyond the reach of light. They can be small holes on a hill side, huge openings as large as an NFL Stadium, a hole at the bottom of a sinkhole, be dry or wet, or a pit that goes straight down.
Caves, sinkholes, sinking streams, and springs are part of the topography or landscape known as karst. Karst is a term that was first applied to a plateau in the Dinaric Alps of Yugoslavia. It has now come to be applied to similar regions throughout the world. Such regions are characterized by the presence of limestone or other soluble rocks, where drainage has been largely diverted into subsurface routes.
Caves are found in many types of rock, but are most common in limestone and gypsum. These caves were formed by water under the surface of the earth. Freely circulating slightly acidic rainwater and the water in the soil slowly dissolve any fractures in the limestone and create the sinkholes, caves, and other features that characterize karst landscapes. A second type of cave is the lava cave, formed as liquid lava flows. A third type of cave is the sea cave. Sea caves have been formed along cliffs and rocky seashores.
Two well-developed areas of karst landscape are present in Indiana. The first, the Mitchell Plateau, is a broad limestone karst plateau dissected by a few major stream systems and is located in southern Indiana. This plateau developed on Mississippian limestones and extends from the eastern part of Owen County southward to the Ohio River in Harrison County. The second karst area is located in southeastern Indiana and is known as the Muscatatuck Plateau. This plateau developed on limestones of Silurian and Devonian age.
There are over 3600 caves in Indiana. 284 of these caves are over 1,000 feet long and 63 are over 1-mile long. The longest cave in Indiana is Binkleys Cave with a total of 24.07 miles in length. Indiana's second longest cave is Lost River Cave, totaling around 21 miles. Both caves claim a title as one of the 25 longest caves in the United States.
The best way to learn how to explore caves in Indiana is to join a local caving group. There are 16 groups or grottos in Indiana. To find the one nearest your location, click on this grotto link.
Remember to cave safely and softly:
- Never cave alone.
- Take at least 3 sources of light per person (flashlight, carbide lamp. candle, etc.) Also take extra batteries and matches.
- Always wear a helmet and gloves. Kneepads and boots are also handy.
- Make sure and let some know where you are at and what your plans are.
- Do not trespass. Caves and the property they are on are usually owned by someone. Always ask permission!
- Know the weather forecast. Do not go into caves when it is raining or when it might rain. Caves can flood in a short time.
- Take nothing but pictures; leave nothing but footprints; kill nothing but time.