IN THE DEPTHS OF THE EARTH
 Over
3500 caves have
been recorded on Crete since 1962, when the late eminent Eleftherios
Platakis founded the local department of the Hellenic Speleological Society.
Of those 3500 caves only 850 have been explored. However, during the last
twenty years, the Cretan speleologists have been very active, and fortunate
at the same time.
In particular, they have delved into the deepest cave on
Greece,
«Tafkos at Petradolakia», a chasm as deep as 475 meters with a subterranean
river bed. The exploration of the cave required a total of 22 descents
and copious, to say the least, negotiations through ice-cold waters and
treacherous foot-holds. At a depth of 380 meters the daring speleologists
came across a lake which they had to swim across.
What excites the imagination in such deep enclosures, besides the
decorative effects of stalactites and stalagmites, are the animal and vegetation
life. Numerous questions are raised easily, but answers are sparse and dubious. This is the
case, for example, with the animal fossils found inside
the bowels of Crete. Occasionally, speleologist have unearthed fossils
of animal bones identified as belonging to dwarf and giant deer over 10,000
years old, hippopotamus, and dwarf elephants, whales and rare tortoises.
However, speleological activity has a more practical side. This is
the collection of information concerning the flow of subterranean waters
(aquifers). Such information is very useful, considering the increased
need for water resources on the island.
SUGGESTED BOOKS Geology
of Crete by Charalampos Fassoulas
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