Is groundwater important to the formation of underground caves and caverns?
Yes, groundwater is very important to the formation of underground caverns and caves. Like rivers, it carries sediment and chemical elements, carving out or dissolving rocks, as well as depositing sediment or minerals. For example, karst topography is greatly affected by groundwater activity, forming some very famous caves and caverns, such as Luray Caverns in Virginia and Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico.
