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2021 declared International Year of Caves and Karst

George Veni, left, and Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway pose on Jan. 21, 2021. Janway declared 2021 to be the "International Year of Cave and Karst" and Veni hopes to educate people on the importance of this valuable substance.

Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway declared 2021 to be the “International Year of Caves and Karst” on Jan. 26.

The International Year of Caves and Karst is a worldwide project to educate on the importance of the widespread natural resources. It is organized by the International Union of Speleology (UIS), the international organization for the exploration, study, and protection of caves and karst, comprised of 55 member countries.

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George Veni, the Executive Director of the National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI), has more than 20 years of experience working with karst. He said karst is an area made up of limestone, which is a soft rock that dissolves in water. Karst landscapes include sinkholes, caves and underground streams.