These Bornean caves are among the biggest in the world and they're still getting bigger as each year rainwater eats away a little more limestone. But water in caves doesn't only erode. It also builds. This water is loaded with dissolved limestone and when it meets the air in the cave some of that is deposited as a mineral - calcite. As it builds up so the calcite forms decorations that hang from the ceiling - stalactites. Each drop leaves behind only a minuscule amount of calcite, but over time the process can produce some spectacular results. If the water seeps through the ceiling quickly, then the calcite is deposited on the floor of the cave and that creates stalagmites.


加里曼丹岛的这些洞穴属于世界上最大的洞穴之列，而且它们还会继续扩大，因为雨水还在年复一年地冲刷着石灰石。但水不仅是洞穴的侵蚀者，同时还是建设者。这些水里含有溶化的石灰岩，这些石灰岩和洞穴中的空气相遇之后，其中一部分会凝结成一种矿物质----方解石。这些方解石会逐渐变成从洞顶悬垂下来的装饰——钟乳石。每一滴水只能留下极其微小的方解石，但日复一日年复一年，便会形成种种奇观。如果从洞顶下滴的水滴得比较快，方解石就会堆积在洞底，形成石笋。