Hey there! Welcome back to our special hideout, the fort! Did you know that our fort is like a secret underground cave? Caves are cool spaces underground that are big enough for people or even robots like Squeaks to explore. Some caves are small and narrow, while others are big with lots of tunnels and rooms. You can find caves on cliffs, in forests, and even underwater. But they all have one thing in common: they’re made of rock.
Today, we’re going to learn about a different kind of cave that’s super cool—literally! They’re called ice caves. Ice caves are similar to regular caves because they’re often underground and big enough for people to enter. But instead of being made of rock, they’re made of ice!
There are two main types of ice caves. The first type is called a glacier cave. Glacier caves are made entirely of ice and form in glaciers, which are huge chunks of ice that move slowly like frozen rivers. These caves form when melted water flows through or under the glacier. The water is warmer than the ice, so it melts the ice around it, creating tunnels that become caves.
The second type is simply called an ice cave. Unlike glacier caves, these don’t need to be made completely of ice. However, they must have ice in them all year round, and at least part of the cave must be below 0 degrees Celsius (or 32 degrees Fahrenheit). Ice caves can form almost anywhere. They happen when cold air gets trapped in a space, freezing any water that enters.
Ice caves can be small, just big enough for one person, or they can be huge. The world’s largest ice cave is in Austria, called Eisriesenwelt, which means “World of the Ice Giants” in German. It’s almost 50 kilometers long, and parts of it are open for visitors to explore. Inside, you can see amazing ice formations!
Even though ice caves might seem empty, some creatures live there. Not many animals can survive the freezing temperatures, but tiny creatures like tardigrades, also known as water bears, can. Tardigrades are micro-animals that you can only see with a microscope. They can survive in extreme places, like the bottom of the ocean and, you guessed it, in ice caves!
So, if you ever find yourself in an ice cave, you might feel alone in the quiet, cold space. But you’re actually surrounded by lots of tiny creatures!
Looking at all these pictures of ice caves makes me feel chilly. I’m glad our fort is a nice, warm, regular rock cave! Thanks for learning about these cool caves with us. If you have any questions or want to learn more about something, ask a grown-up to help you leave a comment or send us an email at [email protected]. See you next time!
Ice Cave Art: Gather some ice cubes, a tray, and some food coloring. Let the children create their own “ice caves” by arranging the ice cubes on the tray. Use the food coloring to add color to the ice, representing the different minerals and formations found in real ice caves. Ask the children to observe how the ice changes as it melts and discuss how real ice caves might change over time.
Mini Glacier Experiment: Fill a small plastic container with water and place it in the freezer to create a block of ice. Once frozen, remove the ice block and place it on a tray. Use a hairdryer or warm water to simulate the melting process that forms glacier caves. Encourage the children to observe how tunnels and holes form in the ice, similar to how glacier caves are created.
Creature Hunt: Discuss the tiny creatures that live in ice caves, like tardigrades. Provide magnifying glasses and take the children on a “creature hunt” in the backyard or a nearby park. Look for small insects or other tiny creatures, and talk about how these might be similar to the creatures that can survive in the extreme conditions of an ice cave.
