Related Topic in KAS Prelims Syllabus:
Geography [Paper-I]: Major Landforms and their features
News
Andhra Pradesh Government will be hosting the Belum Caves festival in January 2020 to popularise the Belum caves.
About Belum Caves
- Belum Caves, also known as Belum Guhalu is located in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh.
- The cave is known for its speleothems, such as stalactite and stalagmite formations.
- This cave system was formed over the course of tens of thousands of years by the constant flow of underground water from the now-disappeared river Chitravathi.
- The caves were occupied by Jain and Buddhist monks many centuries ago. The presence of 4500 years old vessels from the pre-Buddhism era ensures the same.
Additional Info
- A stalactite is an icicle-shaped formation that hangs from the ceiling of a cave and is produced by precipitation of minerals from water dripping through the cave ceiling. Most stalactites have pointed tips.
- A stalagmite is an upward-growing mound of mineral deposits that have precipitated from water dripping onto the floor of a cave. Most stalagmites have rounded or flattened tips.
- Stalactites hang from the ceiling of a cave while stalagmites grow from the cave floor.
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