Post by Taylor on Apr 8, 2006 12:32:46 GMT -5
Meghalaya caves: In need of conservation and research
April 7, 2006
New Delhi: Meghalaya has always been a popular tourist destination because of its sylvan hills and pleasant weather. However, what is now attracting the globetrotter is large number of caves located all around the state.
In the last one decade, with the discovery of over one thousand caves in different parts of the state, it has become a hub of cave explorers and adventurers from all over the world.
Recently, a 17-member team comprising spelaeologists from England, Switzerland, Denmark, Austria and Ireland besides India linked the 'Krem um im-Liat Prah' cave system in Jaintia hills to the 'Krem labbit (Khaidong)' caves to create a single cave system of 22,202.65 metres which is the longest known cave in the Indian sub continent.
"During the discovery of the longest cave in the subcontinent, 39 other caves were also explored, mapped and photographed to discover 15,498 m of new cave passage in the state, " says Brian Kharpran Dally, a spelaeologist from Meghalaya, who was also a part of the team.
Till the early 1990s, very little was known about the caves of Meghalaya. About a dozen caves were known to the people. In 1995, an organisation known as the Meghalaya Adventurers Association (MAA) started its first expedition. Today there are approximately 1060 discovered caves in the state.
"Since 1995, we have been undertaking expeditions under the 'Caving in the abode of the clouds' project. It has led to unexpected discoveries," says, Brian who is the general secretary of MAA.
www.newkerala.com/
April 7, 2006
New Delhi: Meghalaya has always been a popular tourist destination because of its sylvan hills and pleasant weather. However, what is now attracting the globetrotter is large number of caves located all around the state.
In the last one decade, with the discovery of over one thousand caves in different parts of the state, it has become a hub of cave explorers and adventurers from all over the world.
Recently, a 17-member team comprising spelaeologists from England, Switzerland, Denmark, Austria and Ireland besides India linked the 'Krem um im-Liat Prah' cave system in Jaintia hills to the 'Krem labbit (Khaidong)' caves to create a single cave system of 22,202.65 metres which is the longest known cave in the Indian sub continent.
"During the discovery of the longest cave in the subcontinent, 39 other caves were also explored, mapped and photographed to discover 15,498 m of new cave passage in the state, " says Brian Kharpran Dally, a spelaeologist from Meghalaya, who was also a part of the team.
Till the early 1990s, very little was known about the caves of Meghalaya. About a dozen caves were known to the people. In 1995, an organisation known as the Meghalaya Adventurers Association (MAA) started its first expedition. Today there are approximately 1060 discovered caves in the state.
"Since 1995, we have been undertaking expeditions under the 'Caving in the abode of the clouds' project. It has led to unexpected discoveries," says, Brian who is the general secretary of MAA.
www.newkerala.com/