Caracterizacion microambiental de la cueva de Pozalagua (Vizcaya): Aplicacion a la gestion y proteccion de cavidades turisticas

Abstract

The data obtained after monitoring some microenvironmental parameters in the Pozalagua cave from the 1st of April of 2001 to the 1st of july of 2002 are summarized. The singularity of this show-cave is due to the high amount of helictites-type speleothems. Host rock, speleothems and infiltration waters have been analysed as well as the effect of the visits into the cave. It is argued that visits influence the temperature and CO2 levels inside the cave and the natural system need some time to recover from these changes. During massive visits, the increase in cave temperature is greater than the natural annual thermal oscillation. Management guidelines focused in visits-schedules have been proposed in order to minimize the effects of the visits and to keep the cave microenvironment near the natural conditions.