Pit cave
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A pit cave (or vertical cave), often simply called a "pit", is a type of natural cave passage which is vertical rather than horizontal. Entry into pit caves requires specialized caving techniques, akin to technical climbing, for example the single rope technique (SRT) which involves the use of 10-11 mm nylon static rope and mechanical descenders/ascenders.
Vertical caving, also called "pit caving", is a very specialized sport that should be undertaken only if one has gained knowledge of proper vertical caving equipment and its proper use. Due to the fact that one must hang over a pit by a single rope, vertical caving is more dangerous than horizontal caving.
[edit] Notable pit caves
- Cave of Swallows, San Luis PotosÃ, Mexico, at almost 400 meters is the world's deepest pit cave freefall drop
- Hellhole, in West Virginia, USA
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