|
Category |
Count |
|
Database Records |
9520 |
|
Caves |
4387 |
|
Sinks/Features |
1524 |
|
Shelters |
262 |
|
Springs |
2816 |
|
Undefined |
321 |
|
Rumored |
271 |
|
Aesthetic Caves |
77 |
|
Archeologically
Significant |
179 |
|
Bad Air Caves |
210 |
|
Bat Caves |
185 |
|
Biologically Significant |
344 |
|
Endangered Species |
144 |
|
Geologically Significant |
70 |
|
Historically Significant |
64 |
|
Hydrologically Significant: |
119 |
|
Paleontologically Significant |
94 |
|
Number of Texas Counties with
recorded karst data |
208 |
|
Number of records with location
data |
7181 |
|
Number of records without
location data - Topographic Map defined |
1108 |
|
Lost Caves - no location or
Topographic Map |
1330 |
|
|
|
Definitions: |
|
The numbers in the right hand
column won't add up to the total number of TSS database records
because some records have multiple designations such as cave and
spring. |
|
Database records:
The
number of database records (rows) representing all caves, karst
features, sinkholes, and shelters.
|
|
Cave:
Cave: a naturally occurring, humanly enterable cavity in the earth, at least 5 m
(15' 6") in length and/or depth, and where no dimension of entrance exceeds the length or depth of the cavity.
|
|
Sinks/Features:
Anything representing cave activity that doesn't meet the minimum
definition of a cave. |
|
Shelter:
A
rock overhang. |
|
Spring:
Can also be a cave. |
|
Undefined:
Records that haven't been defined as a cave, Sink/feature, spring,
shelter, or rumored. |
|
Rumored:
A record entered on the basis of a reported rumor that hasn’t been verified. |
|
Archeologically Significant:
A record flagged due to known
archeological activity or observed material. Typically a
sensitive location for visitation. |
|
Biologically
Significant:
A record flagged due to presence of
biological species of unusual diversity and/or
uniqueness. |
|
Endangered Species:
A record flagged due to presence of
biological species of endangered status. |
|
Geologically Significant:
A record flagged due to presence of
unusual or unique mineralogical, structural, and/or lithological
features. |
|
Historically Significant:
A record flagged due to presence of
artifacts, signatures, and/or other material older than 50 years
that has historical importance, yet is not prehistoric.
May be site of historic event. |
|
Hydrologically Significant:
Caves or features of notable importance to aquifers for their
capacity to recharge and discharge groundwater, relatively high
potential to pollute aquifers if they recharge contaminants, and/or
their utility in monitoring karst aquifers. |
|
Paleontologically
Significant: A record flagged due to presence of
paleontological material that is recognized or inferred to be of
importance. |
|
Number
of Texas Counties with recorded karst data:
The
number of counties in the State of Texas with at least on record in
the database. |
|
Number of records with location data:
The number of records
in the database having a recorded location in both UTM and LAT/LON.
The TSS currently records location data using the NAD27 CONUS datum. |
|
Number
of records without location data - Topographic Map defined:
The number of TSS records without a UTM or LAT/LON location but with
a Topographic Map Defined. |
|
Lost Caves - no location or Topographic Map:
The number of caves without any
location data, i.e., UTM or Lat/Lon and no topographic map.
Some of these have very thorough maps and reports. |