Limestone cave
Also called: Cavern, Limestone caves of India · Topic: Landforms and their Evolution: Rivers, Groundwater, Glaciers, Waves and Wind · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 6 "Landforms and their Evolution"
Meaning
A limestone cave is an underground hollow or passage in limestone. Groundwater with carbon dioxide dissolved in it becomes a weak acid. This acid dissolves the rock along bedding planes (the joins between rock layers) and joints. Over long periods the gaps widen into caves. Dripping water then leaves behind calcium carbonate, which forms stalactites, stalagmites and pillars. A cave open at both ends is called a tunnel. Caves are part of karst topography and are important for tourism and for studying groundwater.
Example
Belum Caves in Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh, are a large limestone cave system. Borra (Andhra Pradesh), Kotumsar (Chhattisgarh) and Krem Liat Prah (Meghalaya) are other Indian examples.
Don't confuse with
- Sea cave: waves hollow out a sea cave in a coastal cliff by wearing the rock away. A limestone cave forms underground as rock dissolves.