Throughout history, caves have played (and continue to play) a multitude of roles in both real life and lore — from places of shelter and refuge to sources of wonderment, exploration and danger.

Though dark and damp and often ominous in appearance, caves have been significant players in the fields of science, education and recreation, so plenty of positive things are associated with these underground wonders. None­the­less, being places where potential danger lurks has given caves a reputation that’s hard to shake, whether the information is based on facts or not.