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Caves

Interesting landscapes are not only found on the Earth’s surface, but also in the depths of the Earth. We are speaking of underground cavities, caves, that are very important for various aspects. All the changes that take place around the cave, such as tectonic movements, climatic changes, changes in the topography, cause changes inside the karst systems, that tend to find a new balance with the new situation. Therefore, caves are not characterized by stable features, that do not change in time and space; it must always be borne in mind that they were formed in topographic and climatic situations that were greatly different from the current situation. The study of the sediments that are carried inside the caves, with their characteristics, their composition, their contents in fossils, enables us to reconstruct the variations in the environment and in the climate on the Earth’s surface. Karst aquifers account for a very important source of water in a large number of regions of the Earth: in fact karst areas are, by nature, without water on the surface and all the water circulation takes place underground. However these resources are very delicate to use and to protect. In fact karst aquifers, due to some of their characteristics, are particularly vulnerable to pollution and excessive exploitation.

subjects dealt with in Caves

Caves knowledge

Most rocks have pores and cavities within them. Generally, however, these are not large enough for a person to explore.…

How caves form

Most of the longest and deepest caves in the world are formed by chemical corrosion processes in rocks particularly water-soluble…

Karst landscape

A large number of factors influence the formation of cave systems : chemical factors and climate control the dissolving capacity…

Studying caves

There are many different reasons that drive some men and women towards speleology: for some it is the sporting or…

Caves and water

Water that is normally present in porous rocks, such as sand or gravel, fills all the voids in a continuous…

Cave inhabitants

Cave environment, dark and mysterious, has always stimulated man’s fantasy, provoking a mixture of curiosity and fear. Man has envisioned…

 
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"Eniscuola Energy and Environment" is a project run by eni to promote awareness of energy and environmental issues amongst students. In the Italian version, the website also offers digital lessons on Art, Science and English language.

 
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eniscuola energy&environment

"Eniscuola Energy and Environment" is a project run by eni to promote awareness of energy and environmental issues amongst students. \ In the Italian version, the website also offers digital lessons on Art, Science and English language, produced in collaboration with Italian high schools (eniscuola culture and eniscuola in the classroom).

 
 
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