A show cave—also called tourist cave, public cave, and, in the United States, commercial cave—is a cave which has been made accessible to the public for guided visits.
A show cave is a cave that has been made accessible to the public for guided visits,[1] where a cave is defined as a natural occurring void beneath the surface of the earth, per the International Show Caves Association.[2]
A show cave may be managed by a government or commercial organization and made accessible to the general public, usually for an entrance fee. Unlike wild caves, they may possess regular opening hours, guided group tours, constructed trails and stairs, color artificial illumination and other lighting,[3] musical/video/laser shows and concerts, elevators, small trains, and boats if they contain underground water features. Some caves (mainly in Asia) open to the public have temples, monasteries and religious statues or monuments. Some caves are visited by millions of tourists annually. [citation needed]
The term is used inconsistently between nations: many countries[which?] tend to call all caves which are open to the public show caves or public caves in contrary to all other caves which are not allowed to enter. However, there are many such caves which are not developed with trails, light and tours, which are visited by very many people. This kind of cave is often called a semi-wild cave.[citation needed] Access may involve anything between an easy stroll and dangerous climbing[citation needed]. Most cave accidents happen in this kind of cave, as visitors underestimate the difficulties and dangers.[citation needed]
Historyedit
A small chair train to Postojna Cave, SloveniaA mini-metro train to New Athos Cave, GeorgiaBoats to Glyfada Cave/Dirou Pyrgos Caves, Greece
The oldest known show cave in the world is probably Reed Flute Cave in China with inscriptions from 792 in the time of the Tang dynasty. Other old show caves are Postojna Cave in Slovenia, with the presumed first record of a cave tour in 1213. Other early show caves are Jasov Cave in Slovakia with inscriptions from 1452, the Sontheimer Höhle in Germany which was reportedly visited by Herzog Ulrich von Württemberg on 20 May 1516[4] and Vilenica Cave in Slovenia where entrance fees were taken from 1633 on. In 1649, the first "authorized" cave guide started guiding Baumannshöhle in the Harz in Germany though this cave was intensively visited much earlier.[5]
The development of electric lighting enabled the illumination of show caves. Early experiments with electric light in caves were carried out by Lieutenant Edward Cracknel in 1880 at Chifley Cave, Jenolan Caves, Australia. In 1881, Sloupsko-Šošůvské Jeskyně, Czech Republic, became the first cave in the world with electric arc light. This light did not use light bulbs, but electric arc lamps with carbon electrodes, which burned down and had to be replaced after some time.[6]
The first cave in the world with electric light bulbs as we know them today was the Kraushöhle in Austria in 1883. But the light was abandoned after only seven years and then visited with carbide lamps for decades. Today the cave is guided with handheld LED lamps. In 1884, two more caves were equipped with electric light, Postojna Cave, Slovenia, and Olgahöhle, Germany.[7]
Crystal Cave (Ohio) in Put-In-Bay, Ohio, United States (The world's largest known geode, a celestine geode 35 feet (11 m) in diameter at its widest point)
^Jennings Joe N, Cave and Karst Terminology, in Matthews P. G. (ed), Australian Karst Index 1985, ASF Broadway, pp 14.1-13
^Definition of show cave n.d. The International Show Caves Association (I.S.C.A.), accessed 24 July 2017
^"Letter of Recommendation: Show Caves". The New York Times. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
^"Sontheimer Höhle". showcaves.com. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
^"Baumannshöhle". showcaves.com. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
^"First Caves with Electric Light". showcaves.com. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
^"First Caves with Electric Light". showcaves.com. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
^"Limestone cave can now be seen in a new light". MeteorElectrical.co.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
^ abcdefg"Subterranean World Heritage List". showcaves.com. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
External linksedit
International Show Caves Association (I.S.C.A.)
Show Caves of the World showcaves.com
United States show caves directory by state goodearthgraphics.com
US National Caves Association cavern.com
Show Caves of the World - list List of Show Caves in the World
Karst and Cave Protection Commission
January 01, 1970
show, cave, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december, 2017,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Show cave news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2017 Learn how and when to remove this message A show cave also called tourist cave public cave and in the United States commercial cave is a cave which has been made accessible to the public for guided visits Trail stairs in Mammoth Cave United States Contents 1 Definition 2 History 3 Notable show caves in alphabetical order 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDefinition edit nbsp An artificial complex illumination in Reed Flute Cave China nbsp Color highlighted ice in Kungur Ice Cave Russia nbsp Lighting in Manjanggul lava tube Jeju South Korea nbsp A bridge in Skocjan Caves Slovenia nbsp A concert hall in Cueva de los Verdes Lanzarote Spain nbsp Statues in Batu Caves Malaysia A show cave is a cave that has been made accessible to the public for guided visits 1 where a cave is defined as a natural occurring void beneath the surface of the earth per the International Show Caves Association 2 A show cave may be managed by a government or commercial organization and made accessible to the general public usually for an entrance fee Unlike wild caves they may possess regular opening hours guided group tours constructed trails and stairs color artificial illumination and other lighting 3 musical video laser shows and concerts elevators small trains and boats if they contain underground water features Some caves mainly in Asia open to the public have temples monasteries and religious statues or monuments Some caves are visited by millions of tourists annually citation needed The term is used inconsistently between nations many countries which tend to call all caves which are open to the public show caves or public caves in contrary to all other caves which are not allowed to enter However there are many such caves which are not developed with trails light and tours which are visited by very many people This kind of cave is often called a semi wild cave citation needed Access may involve anything between an easy stroll and dangerous climbing citation needed Most cave accidents happen in this kind of cave as visitors underestimate the difficulties and dangers citation needed History edit nbsp A small chair train to Postojna Cave Slovenia nbsp A mini metro train to New Athos Cave Georgia nbsp Boats to Glyfada Cave Dirou Pyrgos Caves Greece The oldest known show cave in the world is probably Reed Flute Cave in China with inscriptions from 792 in the time of the Tang dynasty Other old show caves are Postojna Cave in Slovenia with the presumed first record of a cave tour in 1213 Other early show caves are Jasov Cave in Slovakia with inscriptions from 1452 the Sontheimer Hohle in Germany which was reportedly visited by Herzog Ulrich von Wurttemberg on 20 May 1516 4 and Vilenica Cave in Slovenia where entrance fees were taken from 1633 on In 1649 the first authorized cave guide started guiding Baumannshohle in the Harz in Germany though this cave was intensively visited much earlier 5 The development of electric lighting enabled the illumination of show caves Early experiments with electric light in caves were carried out by Lieutenant Edward Cracknel in 1880 at Chifley Cave Jenolan Caves Australia In 1881 Sloupsko Sosuvske Jeskyne Czech Republic became the first cave in the world with electric arc light This light did not use light bulbs but electric arc lamps with carbon electrodes which burned down and had to be replaced after some time 6 The first cave in the world with electric light bulbs as we know them today was the Kraushohle in Austria in 1883 But the light was abandoned after only seven years and then visited with carbide lamps for decades Today the cave is guided with handheld LED lamps In 1884 two more caves were equipped with electric light Postojna Cave Slovenia and Olgahohle Germany 7 Because of the unwanted development of lampenflora algae attracted to heat and light around incandescent electric lights in show caves many of these attractions such as Ingleborough Cave in England have switched to cooler temperature LED lighting 8 Notable show caves in alphabetical order editCaves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst 9 Hungary Slovakia Akiyoshidai Cave Yamaguchi Japan Alisadr Cave Alisadr Hamedan Iran largest water cave Angitis near Prosotsani Greece longest underground river cave Atta Cave Attendorn Germany Aven d Orgnac Orgnac l Aven France Avshalom Cave Absalom Cave Soreq Cave Israel Bacho Kiro cave near Dryanovo Bulgaria the first show cave in Bulgaria inaugurated in 1937 Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Bears Cave Chiscău village Bihor County Romania Cuevas de Bellamar Matanzas Cuba Bing Cave in Bavaria Germany Blanchard Springs Caverns in Arkansas United States Blanche Cave Naracoorte South Australia Australia Blue Grotto sea cave in Bisevo island Dalmatia Croatia Buchan Caves Victoria Australia Grottes de Cales near Lamanon France Cango Caves Oudtshoorn South Africa Capricorn Caves Rockhampton Queensland Australia Castellana Caves 9 near Bari Italy Carlsbad Caverns 9 in New Mexico United States Cascade Caverns Boerne Texas United States Cathedral Caves South Island New Zealand Caverna da Tapagem in Iporanga Brazil Cave Without a Name near Boerne Texas United States Craighead Caverns in Tennessee United States Cross Cave Slovenia Crystal Cave Ohio in Put In Bay Ohio United States The world s largest known geode a celestine geode 35 feet 11 m in diameter at its widest point Dan yr Ogof in Powys Wales Dechen Cave Iserlohn Germany Deer Cave near Miri Sarawak Malaysia Dirou Pyrgos Caves Glyfada Cave and Alepotrypa cave with underground river Pyrgos Dirou Greece Devil s Throat Cave Western Rhodope Mountains near Gyovren Bulgaria Dobsina Ice Cave Slovakia Doolin Cave Pol an Ionain in Doolin Ireland Cuevas del Drach Dragon Caves on Mallorca Balearic Islands Spain with concerts Dupnisa Cave Kirklareli Turkey Eisriesenwelt near Salzburg Austria Erdmanns Cave near Lorrach Germany Fantastic Caverns near Springfield Missouri Frasassi Caves Ancona Italy Grotta Gigante Trieste Italy Grutas de Cacahuamilpa Guerrero Mexico Gunns Plains Cave in Tasmania island Australia Coves dels Hams on Mallorca Balearic Islands Spain Caves of Han sur Lesse Grottes de Han Belgium Harrison s Cave Barbados Hato Caves near Willemstad Curacao Hazrat Daoud pilgrimage cave near Nurobod Uzbekistan Caves of Hercules Cape Spartel Morocco Horne Lake Caves near Nanaimo British Columbia Canada Caves of Hotton Belgium Howe Caverns in New York United States Huanglong Cave in Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Hunan China Ingleborough Cave England Inner Space Cavern Georgetown Texas United States Jeita Grotto Lebanon Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountains New South Wales Australia oldest caves with concerts Kazumura Cave in Kilauea Hawaiian Islands United States the largest and deepest lava tube system Kartchner Caverns State Park near Benson Arizona United States Koneprusy Caves Czech Republic Kungur Ice Cave in Kungur near Perm Russia Cave of the Lakes Kastria Greece Lamprechtsofen near Salzburg Austria Ledenika near Vratsa Balkan Mountains Bulgaria Lewis and Clark Caverns in Montana United States Linville Caverns in Marion North Carolina United States Luray Caverns in Virginia United States Magura Cave near Belogradchik Balkan Mountains Bulgaria with concerts Mammoth Cave 9 in Kentucky United States longest caves system Manjanggul in Jeju Island South Korea lava tube Marble Cave Crimea Ukraine Marble Arch Caves in County Fermanagh Northern Ireland Mark Twain Cave near Hannibal Missouri United States Melissani Cave underground lake in Cephalonia island Greece Meramec Caverns near Stanton Missouri United States Mladec Caves Czech Republic Moravian Karst near Blansko Czech Republic Caves of Nahal Me arot Wadi el Mughara four Caves Creek 9 near Haifa Israel Natural Bridge Caverns in Comal County Texas United States Neptune s Grotto sea cave near Alghero in Sardinia Italy Caves of Nerja in Nerja Malaga Spain with concerts New Athos Cave near New Athos Georgia with mini metro Ohio Caverns in Ohio United States Orlova Chuka Cave Danubian Plain near Ruse Bulgaria Painted Cave Galdar on Gran Canaria Canary Islands Spain Phong Nha Cave Quang Binh Vietnam Poole s Cavern England Caverne du Pont d Arc show cave replica of Chauvet Cave 9 Vallon Pont d Arc France Postojna Cave Postojna Slovenia the longest show cave in Europe and the birthplace of speleobiology with small trains and concerts Reed Flute Cave Ludi Yan Guilin Guangxi China Resava Cave Serbia Saeva dupka Pre Balkan near Lovech Bulgaria Scărișoara Cave Garda de Sus Alba County Romania Seven star Cave Qixing Yan Guilin Guangxi China Shaitan Koba Crimea Ukraine Skelska Cave Crimea Ukraine Skocjan Caves 9 Matavun Slovenia Syrau Drachen Cave Syrau Germany Smoo Cave Scotland Snezhanka Cave Rhodope Mountains near Peshtera Bulgaria Caverns of Sonora Sonora Texas United States Cave of El Soplao Cantabria Spain St Michael s Cave Gibraltar with concerts Tabon Caves near Quezon Palawan Philippines Tapolca Caves with underground river Tapolca Hungary Thien Đường Cave Đồng Hới Vietnam Uhlovitsa Cave Rhodope Mountains near Smolyan Bulgaria Caves of Valeron Santa Maria de Guia de Gran Canaria Canary Islands Spain Cueva del Viento on Tenerife Canary Islands Spain the largest lava tube system in Europe Cueva de los Verdes Haria on Lanzarote Canary Islands Spain lava tube La Verna cave in Sainte Engrace France with the largest chamber in a show cave Verteba Cave Ukraine Vilenica Cave Slovenia the oldest show cave in Europe Vjetrenica Cave Bosnia and Herzegovina Vorontsova Cave near Sochi Russia Vypustek Cave Czech Republic Waitomo Caves New Zealand Wonder Cave San Marcos Texas United States Wookey Hole Caves Somerset England Yagodinska Cave Western Rhodope Mountains near Smolyan Bulgaria the longest cave in the Rhodope Mountains contains a very large number of cave formations including the rare cave pearls Zbrasov Aragonite Caves Czech RepublicSee also editList of caves in Austria List of caves in Bulgaria List of show caves in Germany List of caves in ItalyReferences edit Jennings Joe N Cave and Karst Terminology in Matthews P G ed Australian Karst Index 1985 ASF Broadway pp 14 1 13 Definition of show cave n d The International Show Caves Association I S C A accessed 24 July 2017 Letter of Recommendation Show Caves The New York Times 29 October 2019 Retrieved 1 September 2020 Sontheimer Hohle showcaves com 5 March 2022 Retrieved 5 March 2022 Baumannshohle showcaves com 5 March 2022 Retrieved 5 March 2022 First Caves with Electric Light showcaves com 5 March 2022 Retrieved 5 March 2022 First Caves with Electric Light showcaves com 5 March 2022 Retrieved 5 March 2022 Limestone cave can now be seen in a new light MeteorElectrical co uk Retrieved 30 December 2017 a b c d e f g Subterranean World Heritage List showcaves com 5 March 2022 Retrieved 5 March 2022 External links editInternational Show Caves Association I S C A Show Caves of the World showcaves com United States show caves directory by state goodearthgraphics com US National Caves Association cavern com Show Caves of the World list List of Show Caves in the World Karst and Cave Protection Commission Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Show cave amp oldid 1214732746, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
