The sights to see underground make spelunking an interesting pastime.
Impressive rock formations, cave dwelling animals and water features make spelunking a memorable pastime for those who try it. The underground caverns of Illinois provide exciting locations for spelunking enthusiasts, with several areas having cave systems open to exploration. Spelunking organizations in the state enable those involved in the pastime to meet like-minded people.
General
Anyone considering spelunking in Illinois should note that, since early 2010, many state-owned cave systems have closed to visitors. The reason involves a disease known as white-nosed syndrome, which affects bats living in caves. Organizations, such as the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (dnr.state.il.us) are concerned that human activity in the caves may result in the spread of the disease. Closures will likely remain in place through 2012, although quarterly reviews will assess the need for them.
Organizations
Organizations in Illinois that cater to those interested in spelunking include the Little Egypt Grotto (home.globaleyes.net/carbide). Based in Carbondale, this club schedules trips to local Illinois cave systems, as well as further afield. The Grotto holds monthly meetings at Southern Illinois University (siu.edu), with new members welcome to attend. The Windy City Grotto (windycitygrotto.org) also arranges outings to caves in Illinois and other locations. They hold meetings twice a month at Aurelio's Pizza (aureliospizza.com) in Addison for those interested in becoming a member.
Cave Locations
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources identifies four main regions with geological conditions that result in underground cave systems. These include the Driftless Area in the northwest corner of Illinois, the Lincoln Hills in the west and the Salem Plateau and Shawnee Hills regions in the south of the state. With many cave systems likely to remain closed through 2012, spelunking enthusiasts planning an expedition should check with the organization responsible for managing a cave before traveling, to verify access for visitors.
Cave Types
The Illinois State Geological Survey (isgs.uiuc.edu) identifies two types of cave systems in Illinois. Branchwork caves typically develop in limestone rock areas and feature a large central cave with smaller passages branching off from it. Network caves more commonly form in dolomite rock in Illinois, although they can also develop in limestone regions. These typically feature a grid-like network of inter-connecting passages.
Cave Animals
Spelunking provides the opportunity to view several animal species identified by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as living in Illinois cave systems. These include the monorail worm and cave salamander. Rare cave creatures include the Illinois cave amphipod, a shrimplike animal that lives in a few caves in the Salem Plateau region.
Cave Protection Act
Those planning a spelunking trip should make themselves aware of the Illinois Cave Protection Act, which identifies activities that those entering a cave system should avoid. These include causing damage to rock surfaces and formations, interfering with any cave animals and organisms, and prohibitions on removing any materials or objects found in a cave system.
Tags: cave systems, Department Natural, Department Natural Resources, Illinois Department, Illinois Department Natural
