Why Tham Luang Nang Non is in news?

Why Tham Luang Nang Non is in news?

• On June 23 a group of twelve boys together with their soccer coach entered the “Great Cave of the Sleeping Lady” (Tham Luang Nang Non), located in the Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand.
• After recent rainfalls parts of the cave flooded and authorities feared that the group either drowned or was trapped inside the cave.
• As soon as the cave’s entrance flooded after a flash flood, the group was forced to venture deeper inside the cave.
• The water, flowing in open cracks and conduits, can travel up to 1,000 ft through the porous limestone-rock in less than one hour.

Why hydrogeology plays an important role in the Thailand cave rescue operations?
• The exact geometry of the cave system is poorly known.
• Tham Luang cave is at least six miles long, forming a network of caverns and narrow passageways in the Doi Nang Non mountain range.
• Here, Water plays an important role in the formation of caves.
• According to the geological map of Thailand the Doi Nang Non mountain range is composed of a succession of sandstone, limestone, shale and chert.
• Limestone is a sedimentary rock, vulnerable to tectonic deformation and erosion by water.
• Water enters the mountain following superficial cracks and faults. As limestone is dissolved by this groundwater, a three-dimensional network of caverns and conduits forms over time.
• Such karst systems act like a natural sponge inside the mountain. After some days of good weather the cave appears completely dry.
• During the dry season (September-June) Tham Luang cave can be easily reached on foot.