Solution Caves

A view into Natural Bridge Cave with a hiker at the sitting at the end of the tunnel

T. Fondriest

Solution caves are part of karst geology. These caves are formed when acidic water (water collecting carbonate from the limestone rocks) seeps into small cracks—dissolving the rock it touches. Continuous water flow expands the crack into a cave. As time passes, the cave will grow and grow. Streams will bring sediment to erode and weather away at the surface of the cave. This too will help further the expansion of the cave. Many of the caves at Buffalo National River are formed in this exact way! How cool is that? What are other ways that caves can form?

For more information about how Solution Caves form click here!