Alicante, inland from coast
towards Alcoy
Caves are formed when carbonic acid seeps through a calcium rich
rock - in this case limestone- forming calcium bicarbonate, which
is soluble in water. The quantity of carbonic acid, the ambient
temperature, rainfall levels and pressure all play a part in
erosional processes and karst development. The whole of the Costa
Blanca and inland to Madrid shows all sorts and stages of karstic
development, with many caves, rock arches, pinnacles, eyes,
ravines, and the wonderful Enchanted City of Cuenca with its
natural rock statues and fantasy formations.
When local conditions change, in this case less rainfall, the
erosional phase stops and reconstruction begins. Dissolved calcium
carbonate precipitates out, forming dripstones (stalactites and
stalagmites), columns, curtains, flowstone etc.
The Cueva de las Calaveras, named for the 12 Moorish skulls found
there when the cave was discovered in 1768, was inhabited by
Paleolithic humans some 50,000 years ago.
More than 400 yards long, the cave of stalactites and stalagmites
has a dome rising to more than 60 feet and leads to an underground
lake.
The caves are opened from 9am to 8pm, last visit at 8pm
Logging requirements:
Answer these questions:
- In 1936, what was the cave
used for?
- Which zones can we still
observe, even in summer, and they end up being
what?
- Due to what the cave was
formed?
Send me the correct answers using my
geocaching mail. If you want, you can make a photo of you and your
GPS device in the earthcache site! Logs without correct answers
will be extinguished regularly. Good earthcaching!