Cave Research Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Cave Research Foundation (CRF) is an American
private, non-profit group dedicated to the exploration, research, and conservation of caves. The group arose in the early 1950s from the exploration efforts at Floyd Collins Crystal Cave, now within Mammoth Cave National Park
. Its stated goals were to: to promote exploration and documentation of caves and karst
areas, initiate and support cave and karst
research, aid in cave
conservation and protection, and to assist with the interpretation of caves and karst
to the public.
.
The Guadalupe Cave Survey, explorers at Carlsbad Caverns National Park
, New Mexico
, became part of CRF in 1971. In 1976, cave survey at Sequoia National Park
/Kings Canyon National Park
, California
, and Buffalo National River
, Arkansas
, became CRF projects. Additional cave projects in Cumberland Gap
National Historic Park, Kentucky
, Lava Beds National Monument
, California
, Ozark National Scenic Riverway, Missouri
, and China
, have been included as operation areas of the CRF.
, CRF work has primarily focused on United States federal lands---particularly within United States
National Parks. As such, the CRF has been involved with several of the major cave exploration achievements of the 20th century. In particular, CRF mapping at Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
led to its documentation as the world's longest known cave.
Since its inception, CRF has primarily been concerned with cave mapping. Thus, its membership draws experienced cavers, particularly those interested in cave surveying and cartography.
. Cave Books is staffed by volunteers, and the Managing Editor is Paul Jay Steward.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
private, non-profit group dedicated to the exploration, research, and conservation of caves. The group arose in the early 1950s from the exploration efforts at Floyd Collins Crystal Cave, now within Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park is a U.S. National Park in central Kentucky, encompassing portions of Mammoth Cave, the longest cave system known in the world. The official name of the system is the Mammoth-Flint Ridge Cave System for the ridge under which the cave has formed. The park was established...
. Its stated goals were to: to promote exploration and documentation of caves and karst
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
areas, initiate and support cave and karst
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
research, aid in cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
conservation and protection, and to assist with the interpretation of caves and karst
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
to the public.
Growth
CRF officially incorporated in 1957 under the laws of the Commonwealth of KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
The Guadalupe Cave Survey, explorers at Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a United States National Park in the Guadalupe Mountains in southeastern New Mexico. The primary attraction of the park for most visitors is the show cave, Carlsbad Caverns...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, became part of CRF in 1971. In 1976, cave survey at Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is a national park in the southern Sierra Nevada east of Visalia, California, in the United States. It was established on September 25, 1890. The park spans . Encompassing a vertical relief of nearly , the park contains among its natural resources the highest point in the...
/Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon National Park is a National Park in the southern Sierra Nevada, east of Fresno, California. The park was established in 1940 and covers...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and Buffalo National River
Buffalo National River
The Buffalo River, located in northern Arkansas, was the first National River to be designated in the United States. The Buffalo River is slightly more than in length, with the lower flowing within the boundaries of an area managed by the National Park Service, where it is designated the '. The...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, became CRF projects. Additional cave projects in Cumberland Gap
Cumberland Gap
Cumberland Gap is a pass through the Cumberland Mountains region of the Appalachian Mountains, also known as the Cumberland Water Gap, at the juncture of the U.S. states of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia...
National Historic Park, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, Lava Beds National Monument
Lava Beds National Monument
Lava Beds National Monument is located in northeastern California, in Siskiyou and Modoc Counties. The Monument lies on the northeastern flank of the Medicine Lake Volcano, with the largest total area covered by a volcano in the Cascade Range....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Ozark National Scenic Riverway, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, have been included as operation areas of the CRF.
Focus
Starting with Mammoth Cave National ParkMammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park is a U.S. National Park in central Kentucky, encompassing portions of Mammoth Cave, the longest cave system known in the world. The official name of the system is the Mammoth-Flint Ridge Cave System for the ridge under which the cave has formed. The park was established...
, CRF work has primarily focused on United States federal lands---particularly within United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Parks. As such, the CRF has been involved with several of the major cave exploration achievements of the 20th century. In particular, CRF mapping at Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
led to its documentation as the world's longest known cave.
Since its inception, CRF has primarily been concerned with cave mapping. Thus, its membership draws experienced cavers, particularly those interested in cave surveying and cartography.
Cave Books
Cave Books, founded in 1981, is the non-profit publishing affiliate of the Cave Research Foundation. It is perhaps the world’s largest publisher of books on caves, karst, and speleologySpeleology
Speleology is the scientific study of caves and other karst features, their make-up, structure, physical properties, history, life forms, and the processes by which they form and change over time...
. Cave Books is staffed by volunteers, and the Managing Editor is Paul Jay Steward.
Notable CRF Cartographers and Authors
- James "Jim" Borden, explorer of Roppel Cave and coauthor of Beyond Mammoth Cave
- Peter and Ann Bosted, cave photographers
- Roger BruckerRoger BruckerRoger W. Brucker is an American cave explorer and author of books about caves. He is most closely associated with Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, the world's longest cave, which he has been exploring and writing about since 1954.-Early life:...
, explorer and coauthor of The Caves Beyond, Trapped! The Story of Floyd Collins, The Longest Cave, and Beyond Mammoth Cave - Patricia Crowther, explorer and computer programmer
- Will Crowther, explorer and computer programmer
- Joel Despain, cartographer and author of Crystal CaveCrystal Cave (Sequoia National Park)Crystal Cave is a marble cave in Sequoia National Park, in the U.S. state of California. It is one of at least 240 known caves in the park.It is in the Giant Forest region, between the Ash Mountain entrance of the park and Giant Forest....
: a Guidebook to the Underground World of Sequoia National Park and Hidden Beneath the Mountains: The Caves of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park - Chris Groves, Ph.D., CRF President 2004–2006, Professor, Western Kentucky UniversityWestern Kentucky UniversityWestern Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
Department of Geography, Director of the Hoffman Environmental Research InstituteJohn Alan GlennonJohn Alan Glennon is an American geographer and explorer. His work has been mapping and describing caves and geysers.-Caves:... - Patricia Kambesis, former president of CRF, cave cartographer, and coauthor of Deep Secrets: The Discovery and Exploration of Lechuguilla Cave
- Arthur N. Palmer, Ph.D., karst scientist and author of several books on cave geology
- Patty Jo WatsonPatty Jo WatsonPatty Jo Watson is an American archaeologist renowned for her work on Pre-Columbian Native Americans, especially in the Mammoth Cave region of Kentucky. She is now Distinguished University Professor Emerita, Archaeology at Washington University in St. Louis...
, Ph.D., archaeologist - Richard "Red" Watson, Ph.D., author of books on caves and philosophy
- William B. White, Ph.D., karst scientist and author of several books on karst hydrology