What is the Difference Between Cave and Cavern?

The terms "cave" and "cavern" are often used interchangeably, but they do have distinct meanings. A cave is any cavity in the ground that is large enough that some portion of it will not receive direct sunlight, and there are many types of caves. A cavern, on the other hand, is a specific type of cave that is naturally formed in soluble rock with the ability to grow speleothems (formations such as stalactites and stalagmites). In other words, although a cavern can accurately be called a cave, not all caves can be called caverns.

Some key differences between caves and caverns include:

Formation: Caves can form in various ways, such as through the dissolution of soluble rocks like limestone and dolomite, or through volcanic activity and erosion. Caverns, as a specific type of cave, form through the dissolution of soluble rocks.
Speleothems: Caverns have the ability to grow speleothems, which are cave formations made from the deposition of minerals in solution over long periods of time. These include stalactites, stalagmites, and columns.
Entrance: Caverns may not have an entrance, as they can be formed under the surface in the bedrock. Entrances may be created by a valley enlarging, the collapse of a sinkhole, or human intervention.

Geologists generally agree that the terms "cave" and "cavern" are synonymous, and the difference between the two is mostly a matter of semantics. However, some sources differentiate between the two based on the presence of stalagmites and stalactites, or the ability of plant and animal life to thrive in caves but not in caverns.