Caves and Karsts of Indiana

Indiana is home to more caves than many people might realize. Are you curious about our state’s underground marvels and what they were used for throughout history? If you would love to learn more about cave features and formations, the different types of cave structures found deep underground, their history, and their geological and biological features, come to the library on Saturday, August 17^th at 10 am to learn about “Caves and Karsts of Indiana.”

In general, caves are not affected by outside weather conditions. They tend to stay roughly the same temperature throughout the year (approximately 58 degrees). And considering that water formed these subterranean features millions of years ago, the humidity is high, often ranging from 90-100%. Many caves in the U.S. are privately owned, while others have been incorporated into state and national parks as people’s interest in the dark depths of the underground world continues to grow.

In addition, caves can be dead or alive. Dead or alive?! Yes! Living caves tend to have speleological formations that are actively growing, as evidenced by the drop of water at the tip of the formation. There can be sticky clay mud, too, due to the influx of rainwater from the surface seeping into the subsurface rocks. Some caves are dry with no living features or formations and little to no cave life. This is usually due to disturbance, human activity, or a lack of education and experience when spelunking (or caving).

Caves and karsts, which are underground structures created through the passage of water in limestone deposits, like sinkholes, springs, and disappearing streams, are hosts to many life forms. During this presentation, you will hear about blind fish and crawdads, sightless spiders and centipedes, albino insects, and even a variety of bats that frequent caves and karst features throughout southern Indiana. 

Join us for some learning fun! We’ll discuss all the details listed in this article, as well as proper cave etiquette, local caves that can be visited publicly (or just word-of-mouth oral histories from private locations), and organizations to become involved in if you catch cave fever! Registration is not required – just meet us in Room A on the lower level of the library.

If you want to do some reading beforehand, come to the library and browse or check out some books on the history of caves. In our Local History department, you can find “Speleology and Karst Hydrology” by Richard Powell (RG 551.4 Pow). Our adult non-fiction collection includes “A Guide to Caves and Karsts of Indiana” by Samuel Frushour (551.44 Fru), “Entering the Stone: On Caves and Feeling through the Dark” by Barbara Hurd (796.525 Hur), and “Subterranea: Journey to the Depths of Earth’s Most Extraordinary Underground Spaces” by Chris Fitch (624.19 Fit). Finally, we have the “Prehistoric and Historic Archaeology of Wyandotte Cave and Other Caves in Southern Indiana” by Patrick Munson (977.228 Mun).

For local caving questions or a list of speleological organizations in central Indiana, contact the Adult Services Department at 765-362-2242 or email us at ref@cdpl.lib.in.us.  Address your questions to the Library Naturalist.  The library is open Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 9 pm, Friday and Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm.