# Natural caves

A map of a former edition of the Atlas of Switzerland, the national atlas published by ETH Zurich. It opens only in the desktop atlas (version 4) for Windows and macOS, not in the web atlas; see the links below.

- Map: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/natural-caves/
- Map id: 113
- Categories: Nature and Environment › Geology and raw materials › Caves and karstic processes
- Keywords: Geology
- Published: 2016-05-13
- Last revised: 2022-02-03
- Content language: English
- Other languages: [Deutsch](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/de/thema/natuerlich-entstandene-hoehlen.md), [Français](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/fr/theme/grottes-naturelles.md), [Italiano](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/it/tema/grotte-naturali.md)

## Description

*Different types of caves*
*Shafts* are downward-leading vertical conduits from 10 to 200 m long which are linked by meanders (serpentine-shaped, high, narrow conduits). The entrance of a *Ponor Cave* is where a stream is swallowed up by the ground, whose visit is often thereby made dangerous. Caves are sometimes active, i.e. occasionally active. *Fossil caves* are now dry. These are often located high up, above adjacent valleys. *Ice caves* contain permanent underground glaciers. These are found in the Alps, but also in the Jura above 1000 m altitude. *Siphons* are caves which lie under water. Their study requires special technical equipment (cave scuba diving). *Extensive cave systems *are made up of the various types of caves described above.

*Speleology *
The natural caves in Switzerland are explored, mapped and documented by speleologists from the Swiss Society for Speleology (SSS). Each section of the SSS explores an area defined according to geological criteria. First, all cave entrances are sought, whether large or small. When an unknown entrance is discovered, the exploration begins with the necessary specialised equipment. The measurement and mapping of the cave are carried out together. Descriptive texts add detail to the observations. In many cases, the caves are short (less than 50 m) and the documentation can be prepared in one day. Sometimes the cave system is explored for several kilometres. The difficulties in advancing, as well as the work of documentation, limit the study to about 100 to 200 meters per day, without mentioning especially difficult days when only 10-20 m are able to be penetrated. The study of extensive cave systems, as for example the Hölloch (SZ, 207 km) or the Siebenhengste (BE, 160 km), require enormous amounts of work. In Switzerland, several dozens of new caves and 10 to 20 kilometres of unknown caves are discovered annually. Sometimes paleontological or archeological artefacts as well as sediments are found which yield important information concerning the past evolution of our landscape and climate.

## Sources

- SISKA/ISSKA/ISSCA/SISKA: [Höhlen](http://www.isska.ch/De/index.php). Schweizerisches Institut für Speläologie und Karstforschung

## Data sources

- ETH Zurich: [Atlas of Switzerland](https://www.atlasderschweiz.ch/)
- SSS (2021): [Schweizer Höhlendatenbank](http://www.speleo.ch)

## Data owners

- [Atlas of Switzerland (AoS)](http://www.atlasderschweiz.ch/)
- [Swiss Society for Speleology (SSS)](http://www.speleosecours.ch/de/)

## Citation

The terms of use ask to name the Atlas of Switzerland and the data owners, and to keep the source references in exports, screenshots and embeds. Cite the map as:

> Atlas of Switzerland (2022): Natural caves. ETH Zürich. Map data © AoS, SSS. https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/natural-caves/

## Links

- Map page, with the description and sources and a button that opens the map in the desktop atlas: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/natural-caves/
- Open the map in the desktop atlas (version 4), where it is installed: adsglobe://map/113
- Download of the desktop atlas (version 4) for Windows and macOS: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/ads4-download/

For the use and citation of maps and data, see the [terms of use](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/terms-of-use/).