This book reveals the science and beauty of Mammoth Cave the world's longest cave which has
played an important role in the natural sciences. It offers a comprehensive and
interdisciplinary treatment of the cave combining insights from leading experts in fields
ranging from archeology and cultural history to life science and geosciences. The first animals
specialized for cave life in North America including beetles spiders crayfish and fish
were discovered in Mammoth Cave in the 1840s. It has also been used and explored by humans
including Native Americans who mined its sulfate minerals and later African-American slaves
who made a map of the cave. More recent stories include 'wars' between commercial cave owners
epic exploration trips by modern cave explorers and of course tourism.The first section of the
book is an extensive description including maps and photos of the cave its basic structural
pattern and how it relates to the surface landscape. The second section covers the human
history of utilization and exploration of the cave including mining tourism and medical
experiments. Cave science is the topic of the third section including geology hydrology
mineralogy climatology paleontology ecology biodiversity and microbiology. The fourth
section looks to the future with an overview of environmental issues facing Mammoth Cave
managers.The book is intended for anyone interested in caves in general and Mammoth Cave in
particular experts in one discipline seeking information about other areas and researchers
and students interested in the many avenues of pursuit possible in Mammoth Cave.
