Geological occurrence of the ecce homo hill´s cave, chimichagua (cesar), Colombia: an alternative for socio-economic development based on geotourism

Abstract

This work presents the results of the speleological study developed in the Ecce Homo Cerro Cave located in the southwest of the central subregion of the Cesar department, in the Colombian Caribbean region, associated with carbonated rocks of the Aguas Blancas Formation belonging to the Cogollo Group, which have suffered Chemical and mechanical dissolution generating endocárstico and exocárstico environments. In the cavern were found different types of pavillian, paving and zenith speleothems of different sizes in the galleries, being this the tourist attraction of such cavity, such as columns, moonmilk, stalactites, castings, sawtooth, gours and flags. Lithologically, this geological unit is constituted by gray, biomicritic and dismicríticas limestones with high fossiliferous content, intercalations of shales, recrystallized sediments with calcium carbonate, pellets and shells recrystallized with calcium carbonate. The Ecce Homo Cerro Cave can be catalogued as a punctual Geosite with geomorphological interest, taking into account the large number and variety of speleothems presented as well as its excellent state of preservation.

Geoconservation of underground ecosystems in Santander (Colombia) from geotourism and geoeducation strategies

“…Colombia contains numerous resources in underground ecosystems, which are sensitive sites with special features within landscapes referred as karstic environments. 1 Geospeleology is the branch of the earth sciences that is dedicated to the study of underground cavities. This science is very recent in Colombia and dates back to the early 18 th century, when Humboldt visited the Iconozo Bridge, the Grotto of Alfonza and the Cave of Los Ladrones, department of Tolima.…”