The significance of caves
libre 8
The study of karst caves is of great scientific and applied interest. Speleological studies allow to learn more deeply the complex and contradictory karst processes, without which it is impossible to successfully solve many economic problems in areas where easily soluble carbonate and halogen rocks are distributed.
Without a comprehensive study of karst features, hydraulic, industrial, civil and transportation construction is significantly hampered. Many valuable minerals are associated with karst caves.
Often karst massifs have huge reserves of underground water, which can be successfully used for water supply of industrial and domestic facilities, as well as in agriculture and forestry. Caves are of great interest in geomorphological, hydrological, biospheleological, archaeological and paleozoological aspects.
In recent years, they have been studied as special natural landscapes and are classified as geological natural monuments. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of caves from the point of view of speleotourism. 
Importance of caves for construction
The presence of underground cavities and especially large karst caves is a serious obstacle for hydraulic engineering construction, because it creates conditions for possible strong leakage of water from the reservoir. This complicates its filling up to the design level, and also jeopardizes the destruction of the constructed dam.
Similar phenomena are encountered in the practice of hydraulic engineering construction. Thus, as a result of failure over karst cavities under the load of the structure, the Austen dam in Texas (USA) was destroyed. The Soviet Union has accumulated rich experience of hydropower construction in karst areas.
It is based on special engineering-geological study of karst areas and identification of the main regularities of karst development. In some cases, it is possible to "escape" from karst, i.e. to place a hydroelectric structure in such a way (e.g. Kuibyshev HPP on the Volga, Bratskaya HPP on the Angara, etc.) that karst cannot influence it.
In other cases, it is necessary to create dams on karst areas (Syzranskaya HPP, Pavlovskaya HPP on the Ufa, etc.). To protect against karst, complex impervious concrete curtains are created and karst cavities are artificially sealed with clay material. This not only "seals" the existing cavities, but also prevents further development of karst.
Preliminary speleological studies are important in the selection of construction sites for industrial and domestic facilities, as well as for railroads and highways.
There are known cases when buildings and various kinds of structures collapsed as a result of failures over underground voids. In this connection the greatest attention is paid to prediction of probability of formation of cavities. Particularly great difficulties are created when laying railroads in the areas of dissolvable rock distribution. Karst caves complicate the digging of various tunnels.
For example, during the construction of the Rome-Naples railroad (Italy), a tunnel through the Monte Orso mountain, composed of karsted chalk limestone. Due to the fact that it entered the roof of a large karst cave (length 70 m, height 12 m), the route had to be relocated.
Karst is particularly harmful to the mining industry. Underground karst cavities contribute to an increased inflow of karst water in the mine workings, which complicates the exploitation of mineral deposits.
This is noted in many deposits in the Russian Plain, the Urals, Kazakhstan and Siberia. But, perhaps, the mines of the Kizelovsky coal basin in the Urals are especially water-abundant. Here the inflow of karst water into capital mines in some cases can exceed 2500 m3/hour.
Naturally, such a large inflow of water greatly complicates the operation of the mine and requires large expenditures for the installation of powerful dewatering facilities. Sudden water breakthroughs leading to roof collapse and flooding of mine workings are especially dangerous. They are usually observed in the zones of tectonic disturbances, where large underground cavities and caves are developed.
The use of advanced exploration and drainage wells, as well as other measures currently allows successful mining operations at the deposits located in strongly karsted rocks.
Mineral significance of caves
Caves are of great interest in mineralogical terms. At present, 83 secondary minerals have been found in the caves of carbonate karst. Of these, the most numerous are the groups of phosphates (27.71%), carbonates (16.85%) and sulfates (13.25%).
Mineral accumulation processes occurred either simultaneously with the formation of caves (in conditions of hydrothermal and other solutions penetration) or after the formation of underground cavities - in areas where there was a sharp change of chemical elements migration factors.
In some cases, concentrations of ore and nonore minerals are of industrial interest. The so-called bean and karst iron ores, confined to deep caves and natural mines, have a different origin.
They are associated with leaching processes of limestone containing impurities. In the Soviet Union, such ores are noted in the Russian Plain and the Urals.
Importance of caves for oil and gas production
The study of underground karst cavities is of great interest due to the confinement of oil and gas deposits to them. Unfortunately, for a long time researchers and operators underestimated the role of karst in the formation of productive carbonate reservoirs and did not associate oil deposits with karst cavities.
Meanwhile, especially in recent years, drilling and geophysical studies have shown strong cavernosity of carbonate formations and a lot of data have been collected confirming the connection of large oil deposits with karst cavities. For example, a stalactite was ejected when one of the wells in the Hobbs oil field (USA) was gushing.
At the Romashkinskoye field in Northern Bashkiria, a multilevel system of large karst cavities was found in the Lower Carboniferous limestones. Underground cavities can be used for storage of oil and oil products. In the Soviet Union, the Vodyanaya cave (volume of 1000 m3), located on the right bank of the Ik River (Russian Plain), was used for this purpose.
In March 1964, an oil lake with an area of about 200 m and a depth of 1 m was noted in it. Speleological and speleohydrological studies have become increasingly important in recent years in studying the distribution, regime and reserves of underground karst water used for water supply to cities and industrial enterprises.
Especially interesting in this respect are the works carried out in the Mountain Crimea and the Caucasus, which played an important role in solving the problem of drinking water supply to the Black Sea coast resorts.
Importance of caves for agriculture
The presence of underground karst cavities cannot be ignored in agricultural and forestry operations.
Karst determines significant drying of the surface, sparse river network, deep underground water, which in many areas causes great damage to agriculture and forestry.
Importance of caves for archaeology
Caves are of great archaeological interest because the lives of our distant ancestors were closely connected with them. Here it was relatively warm, fire could be kept burning and they could successfully defend themselves against dangerous beasts. The importance of caves in this industry is quite great.
In caves, human culture originated. There were underground temples, the world's oldest sculptures, bas-reliefs, whole picture galleries created by the fragile carving of a primitive artist.
For the first time drawings of Paleolithic man in the Soviet Union were found in the Kapova cave by A. Ryumin. The first construction works related to strengthening the entrance with an artificial wall, leveling the floor, creating niches for food storage, etc. also belong to the same time.
Consequently, caves are the cradle of mankind. Archaeological studies of caves allow us to reconstruct the history of human society development, to penetrate to the origins of Paleolithic culture and art, to trace the main stages of their evolution.
The first ancient Paleolithic monument (mustier site) on the territory of our country - Wolf Grotto - was discovered in 1879 in the Crimea by K.S. Merezhkovsky. Later, ancient human sites were found in many areas of the Soviet Union: in the Crimea, the Caucasus, the Russian Plain, the Urals, Central Asia, Siberia and elsewhere.
The northernmost site of Upper Paleolithic man in the world was discovered in the Northern Urals at the entrance to the Medvezhya Cave. The bones of ancient animals found in the caves are interesting material for establishing the faunistic complex of past epochs.
Bones of mammoth, woolly rhinoceros, bison, reindeer, moose, wolf, fox, cave bear, cave hyena, cave lion and many other animals have been found in the caves. These bones came into the caves in a variety of ways.
Some were washed in by water streams, others were brought in by animals, and some accumulated as a result of cave animals dying or accidentally entering underground cavities. Of particular interest among fossil animals is the cave bear, which was characterized by its enormous size.
It had a wide distribution area, the northern border of which was apparently in the upper reaches of the Pechora River, where the northernmost location of cave bear bones was found (Medvezhya Cave).
Natural caves and mountain excavations are widely used for therapeutic purposes (speleotherapy) in many countries of the world. Clean air, often ionized by radioactive carbon isotopes, constant temperature and various other factors allow to successfully treat respiratory diseases, arthritis, rheumatism, hypertension, gout and some skin diseases.
There are also underground clinics in the Soviet Union. In Solotvino settlement (Zakarpattya region) in the salt mine drift at the depth of 206 meters there is a therapeutic underground ward of the regional allergy hospital. Patients suffering from bronchial asthma are treated here. Every day they spend 7-10 hours underground. The course of treatment lasts 280-300 hours.
Special studies have shown the suitability of potash mines of Solikamsk and Bereznyaki for treatment of cardiovascular diseases. A wide range of speleotherapeutic observations has been carried out in many caves of Abkhazia and Imeretin (Caucasus).
In the near future, it is planned to open an underground sanatorium in the Tskhaltuba stalactite cave for patients with asthma, chronic bronchitis and whooping cough. Some caves, especially those characterized by low air temperature, have long been used as storage rooms for food and various materials.
Wide prospects are opened in the use of underground thermal karst waters. Interesting in this respect is the experience of organizing a greenhouse-hothouse farm in Ochamchir on the southwestern slope of the Caucasus (Georgia) on the basis of the Ohureya springs.
Projects of utilization of hot karst waters in municipal economy and for therapeutic purposes are being developed.
Importance of caves for tourists
Caves have a great cognitive value and are interesting excursion objects. The Kungur Ice Cave has been prepared and equipped for mass excursions, where the nearest grottoes have been electrified, narrow passages have been widened, and dangerous areas have been strengthened.
At present, after tunneling 110 m long, the lakeside, the most interesting part of the Kungurskaya cave is electrified. Construction of an asphalted road, which will go directly to the cave, has begun. Excursions are also organized in Kryvchenskaya, Krasnaya and Sataplia caves.
At present, great works on the improvement of the Anakopi cave - one of the most remarkable karst caves of the Soviet Union - are underway. Soon lovers of underground exotics will be able to get to this cave through a specially created 800-meter tunnel, which will be used by comfortable electric trains.
Now pedestrian paths are being laid here, openwork bridges are being thrown over deep wells, spiral staircases are being built along the cliff faces for a better view. Multicolored illumination will make the most interesting parts of the Anakopi Cave even more spectacular.
It is planned to build an asphalted road to the cave, as well as to build a hotel and tourist base for 500 people. Design and survey work has also begun on the improvement of some other caves of the Soviet Union, planned for excursion shows. 
Of course, this will require certain investments. Meanwhile, as experience shows, with reasonable and proper use of the caves, these costs are not only quickly recouped, but also give a significant profit.
At present, the Kungur cave, for example, is annually visited by about 200 thousand people. According to preliminary estimates, the Anacopia Cave will be visited by 350-400 thousand people annually.
The funds received as a result of a large influx of tourists can be used for further equipment of the caves, as well as for scientific speleological research.
Karst caves, which are often characterized by a complex morphological structure, richness of concretionary forms and peculiarity of the underground world, are unique natural monuments and are subject to protection. And it is not accidental.
Human penetration into the underground world sometimes leads to sad consequences. Often man destroys what nature has been creating for many millennia. Some long-visited caves have suffered greatly from "excursionists". All this makes us pay the most serious attention to the protection of caves, which are of great scientific, applied and aesthetic importance.
Many caves are pathways of underground karst water of high quality and used for water supply of settlements. Caves are peculiar natural laboratories of great scientific and cognitive value.
Unfortunately, the work on the protection of caves is still insufficient. Many new caves, including very interesting ones, have been discovered. It is necessary to take measures to preserve these unique natural complexes in pristine condition for future generations. As we see, the importance of caves is quite wide, so let's protect them.
