Why the Heck Do People Visit a Cave?
There are a variety of reasons why people dare enter the darkness of a cave. With their purpose in mind, you can classify them as either as a spelunker, caver, or a speleologist.
When you enter a cave for pleasure, you are either a spelunker or a caver. So what’s the difference? Are they not the same? Well, according to the guide published by the National Speleological Society (2003), non-cavers may know cavers as spelunkers, but most responsible visitors to caves prefer to be called “cavers.” A speleologist, on the other hand, is a person who practices speleology. The scientific discipline that is concerned with all aspects of caves and cave systems is speleology (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2018).
Unfortunately, caving has its pros and cons. Several problems are usually attached to caves being open for spelunkers, such as destruction of stone formations, garbage left, and vandalism in and out of the cave. On the other hand, it has a positive economic impact to the community where the cave is located.
Thus, whatever your reasons are in daring the depths of the earth, please be mindful of the ecosystem that you are entering, aside from the culture of the community where the cave is located.
References:
National Speleological Society. (2003). A guide to responsible caving [3rd 3d.) Acessed on 15 June 2019 from http://www.anthros.org/old/descargas/guide%20responsible%20caving.pdf
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2018). Speleology. Accessed on 15 June 2019 from https://www.britannica.com/science/speleology
