Bungonia Caves
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Bungonia Caves are sited within the Bungonia State Recreation Area (SRA) adjoining the Morton National Park, about 35 kilometres (21 miles) east of the city of Goulburn, New South Wales and about 125 kilometres (77 miles) south-west of Sydney, Australia.
The caves are precipitous in many places and entry is limited. The caves are formed in limestone that forms the southern portion of the Sydney basin, a broad expanse of New South Wales between this region and the city of Newcastle in the north, and west to Lithgow. Drum Cave is closed to protect a breeding colony of the Large Bent-wing Bat (formerly known as the Common Bent-wing Bat), listed as Vulnerable under the Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995) in New South Wales. Many fosils can be found along the various walking tracks at Bungonia, the surrounding gorge and valley. The "lookdown" lookout oversees the Shoalhaven River, Bungonia Gorge and Bungonia Creek.
[edit] List of Caves
- The Drum Cave
- The Blowfly Cave
- The Grill Cave
- Agyle Cave
- Chalk Cave
- College Cave
- Mass "catherdral" cave
[edit] Foul Air
Foul air is the presence of either high levels of CO2 or low levels of O2 in caves. The former type is common in caves at Bungonia especially in summer (cavers should begin monitoring for foul air past 'Safe from the Russians' in Grill Cave as there is almost always foul air in this cave).
Cavers can test for Foul air in a number of ways. The first is being aware of the body's reaction, panting, tiredness, dizzyness, headaches indicate the presence in increasing amounts.
Another method is to light matches or a lighter to test the air. If there is no flame cavers should be extremely causious of continuing past this point.
