Speleology is an activity that touches multiple and varied facets. It combines scientific, environmental, sports and leisure aspects and has a marked educational value.

 

The main objective of speleology is the exploration and study of underground cavities, which may have formed naturally in karst, pseudo-karst, volcanic, glacial lands; as a consequence of tectonic fractures; or have been artificially excavated. The progression techniques used in caving are at the origin of other outdoors techniques such as canyoning or vertical work and rope access.

 

The most common terrain for spelunking are karstified limestone areas, that is, where the water has been digging its way through the calcareous rock. The main objective of the caver is to find and follow the path of the water from when it enters the limestone massif until it comes out. It is not always possible to identify that route but, here, the important thing is not the goal, but the fascinating path.

 

Speleology is an activity that is done as a team. Its practice requires displaying competencies and abilities that, beyond technical prowess or physical ability, allow the development of deep values ​​such as solidarity, cooperation, respect, commitment, the spirit of improvement, effort and prudence. It awakens the ability to weigh the risks when developing in an environment with little or no traffic and relatively unknown to the vast majority.

 

Speleology has a wide range of educational advantages that help the youngest to acquire knowledge and skills at all school stages and in many educational curricular areas. A clear example of the interconnection that can be established between educational centers and caving is presented by the French association Centre Terre, which, during past expeditions to the limestone islands of Chilean Patagonia, has developed an educational program that has allowed them to share the experience in the field with the little ones thousands of kilometers away. We invite you to visit their page: www.centre-terre.fr

 

The areas that caving deals with are of a very diverse nature: sport, geology, hydrology, meteorology, climatology, topography, photogrammetry, geography, biology, medicine, archeology, paleontology, plastic arts, literature, medicine, rescue and a long etcetera.

 

Along with the seabed, the underground world is one of the last unexplored land borders that cannot be accessed by any means other than human incursion. So much so that this unique environment is even used by space explorers as a training place due to its isolation and absence of light.

 

In Chile, in addition to the speleological explorations and research done by the French association Centre Terre (you will find further information on Underground Patagonia y Centre Terre), there are several groups that have explored caves all along the Chilean geography.

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Following there are some explored and documented zones in Chile:

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