DocAndersen
Growing up in Southern Indiana we were exposed to caves early. First off, spending a day underground wasn’t easy. That is something I’ve done a couple of times. I cannot imagine the terror of not only spending more than a single day but also, not having food for the first 10 or so days. The reality of what those poor kids suffered in Thailand and the heroes that risked everything to save them, is beyond words. I am sharing some pictures from Marengo Cave, located in Southern Indiana. It is not like the cave in Thailand in that it doesn’t have a river currently in it, and it is not rainy season. Caves are formed when the geology is right. In the case of Indiana caves, it is sandstone and limestone.
Sandstone doesn’t erode as quickly as limestone does. The sandstone becomes a cap, with the limestone eroding underneath it. Limestone is water soluble. In fact, if the water has a PH of slight acidic (by nature rainwater is slightly acidic), the limestone will erode fairly quickly. By fairly quickly, in the geologic sense I mean, regarding human time, it is virtually undetectable. Caves are wet and dark. I held my breath every single time the news came on. You see the caves I grew up with were, for the most part, dry or were lower cavern wet. The cave in Thailand was a wet cave, meaning that during the rainy season the cave was full of water, making it very difficult to move around.
Close your eyes for a second. Imagine that level of darkness without much light for 10, 12 days. It can be scary. A huge thank you to everyone that helped get the soccer team out of the cave. It reminds us, in the midst of all the small things, that when human beings need to work together, we can. That humanity has something great we can accomplish, together! Heros are those willing to go into a dark cave, not knowing what is on the other side and if they could even get out themselves. Hereos are willing to do what has to be done, to help someone else. I cannot imagine how scared those poor kids and that coach were for 18 days and no sun. I complain about how hot it is, but sometimes you have to realize how hard it can be. I am glad they are all safe now!
I visited a cave a few years ago. Just amazing! Great photos and information
I haven’t been myself in a few years now (the big cave around here is in Virginia, and it is really long lines to get to it on the weekends)!
Beautiful photos. I have visited many caves here and they always turn the lights off for a few seconds. Really makes you think. My heart went out to those boys and coach as I was surprised they all got out alive. They will never forget that experience.
They will never forget what happened. The impact is multiple though, it makes me wonder how others that have gotten lost feel now, that one group got all that attention and they were forgotten.
Wow Doc, those are impressive. Loved all the things. Straws, stalagmites, and tites, columns, ribbons. Boy that one has it all doesn’t it. I like caves, but they scare me. We had some caves by our property that kind of looked like some of these shots. We had to constantly keep people from taking the stalactites. I also watched that story, so glad they are safe now. I couldn’t image, no.
Caves are interesting, I used to love going in, but now I am nervous.