Stalagmites
These rock formations look like small,
skinny mountains.
How are they formed?
1 Water from the stalactites
sometimes drips onto the ground.
2 Over thousands of years, the
water droplets carr ying the calcium
carbonate form tall mounds
of rock.
Cross-section
of a cave
Sometimes,
the two cones get
so tall that they join,
making a column from
floor to ceiling.
Stalactites
These rock formations look
like giant icicles hanging
from caves.
Caves are made of a
material called limestone
Limestone is made out of calcium
carbonate.
How are they formed?
1 Water from the ground seeps into the roof
of the cave and gathers calcium carbonate
as it passes through
2 The water forms droplets that cling to the
ceiling of the cave
3 Over time, the calcium carbonate in the
droplets hardens
4 After thousands of years, giant hanging
cones are formed
Cave Cavern
River
Stalagmite Stalactite
Limestone Column Underground Lake
Limestone
Crack in
Limestone
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No.49 Issue 3