This is an EarthCache. There is no physical cache to find. Logging an EarthCache requires that Geocachers undertake an educational task relating to the specific Earth Science at the site. If you don't want to answer the questions, don't log this EarthCache.
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To log this Cache as a Find do the following within 48 Hours after or even better before your log:
Email the answers to the questions; do NOT post the answers or spoilers in your log. Logs that give away the answers or are unaccompanied by an email with the answers will be deleted.
- In the subject line write 'GC8X3QR Hoq Cave'
- The number of individuals in your group
- At Stage 1 you can find a tree that is different from those you saw until here and which can't be overseen. Describe it.
- At the main coordinates you will find an info sign about Hoq Cave. According to this sign, what does the cave contain a lot of besides stalactites and stalagmites?
- Inside the cave, take a look at the stalagmites. What do you think caused the color layering?
- Upload a photo of you and/or your GPSr or personal item at the cave to prove that you were here. (A photo is required to log this Cache as a find! It does not need to show your face.)
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Hoq Cave is one of the over 50 caves on Socotra Island. Of all socotri caves, Hoq is the most famous one and is being visited by a large percentage of visitors. However, as there is only little tourism to the island since the start of the war in Yemen, this is not you tipical touristy cave. There is no official way to walk on, so the ground inside is very muddy (bring good shoes!), there are no artificial lights inside the cave (bring a flashlight or head lamp!) and you will not have to pay an entrance fee. You will not have the comfort of parking right in front of the cave as well. To get to the entrance, you will have to hike a trail from the road below which will take about one hour and a half. Most tours will go 2km into the cave before they return. At the returning point, you can find a small lake. To go to the cave you will need a local guide as there are no signs on the trail. As almost every tourist that comes to Socotra is on a tour already, you will most likely not have to worry about finding one.
In 2001, a group of belgian speciologists took a trip farther into the cave and found a large number of inscriptions, drawings and archaeological objects. Investigations showed that these were left by sailors who visited the island between the 1st century BC and the 6th century AD. Most of these are written in the Indian Brāhmī script, but there are also inscriptions in South Arabian, Ethiopic, Greek, Palmyrene and Bactrian scripts and languages. This corpus of nearly 250 texts and drawings thus constitutes one of the main sources for the investigation of Indian Ocean trade networks in that time period. (Source: Wikipedia)
Photo: self
Photo: self
Photo: self
Internet is hard to find on Socotra so I suggest you to download or print out the coordinates and questions before your trip.
I visited the island and this cave on a guided tour with welcometosocotra.com. There are also a few other tour organizations that organize trips to Socotra and this cave.
I do not recommend to visit Hoq Cave without a local guide / guided tour!