“Atlas of Caves in Russia” is the first and, no doubt, a successful attempt to collect data on dozens of natural caves surveyed by speleologists in one volume. In addition to maps and cave descriptions, the edition contains a series of articles about the fundamentals of speleology and the various vectors of scientific explorations. Due to a regrettably small number of copies, the Atlas is, since publication, a bibliographic rarity, which only its authors and libraries of relevant scientific organizations can possess. The book has supreme print quality. Incidentally, each copy weighs over 3 kilos.
The project was supported by a media grant from the Russian Geographical Society. Over a hundred authors from all over Russia and abroad have contributed to the Atlas. The outputs are a unique printed product and an open information retrieval system “Caves”: https://speleoatlas.ru/
The project is being updated and promoted by the efforts of scientists and their voluntary assistants. Forthcoming is the addition of a section dealing with man-made caves and cave excursions to the Atlas. Participants of the meeting have expressed confidence that materials produced by Karelian researchers would take a rightful place in the second edition of the Atlas. E.g., it would definitely include information about the first caving route for tourists in the Republic of Karelia “Underground Ruskeala”. In June 2019, KarRC RAS hosted an international conference dedicated to research and sustainable management of post-industrial underground spaces within BSUIN project.
During the meeting, Anton Yushko (one of the project’s authors) remarked that studies of the underground domain are developing to a new quality level both in Russia and globally. Modern technology and available knowledge help handle special multidimensional tasks. Many countries now perceive natural caves, abandoned mines and fortification facilities as an exclusive resource, calling for research, documentation and management regulation.
KarRC RAS specialists are working in this field within the international project BSUIN (“Baltic Sea Underground Innovation Network”) of the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme. The “Atlas of Caves in Russia” would be a helpful reference source for Karelian scientists.