Holguín hosts International Speleology Congress
- Written by Jorge Fernández Pérez
- Published in Holguin
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The International Speleology Congress “85th anniversary of the Cuban Speleological Society” takes place in the province of Holguín from January 21 to 25, at Playa Los Bajos campsite in the municipality of Gibara, with the participation of 130 national and 70 foreign delegates.
Countries such as Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Hungary, Slovenia, Spain and Portugal are represented at the event, chaired by Divaldo Antonio Gutiérrez Calvache, president of the Cuban Speleological Society, together with members of other organizations, political authorities and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (Citma).
Cosme Casals Corrella, member of the organizing committee, said that the occasion will be opportune for the tribute to three figures of Cuban speleology: José Fermín García Arcos, Juan José Guarch Rodríguez and José Eliecer Corrella Varona.
The event began with the presentation of more than 100 papers aimed at showing the research development of Cuban speleologists, after 85 years of exploration and study of caves, as well as the work of international participants.
Geospeleology, Geology and Geomorphology of karst, Paleontology, Archaeology and Rock Art in karst and geohistorical landscapes, Planning and Management of Speleological Tourism, among others, are among the topics addressed.
The agenda also includes a workshop on speleological rescue, taught by speleologists from Argentina, Costa Rica and Puerto Rican Efraín Mercado Vázquez, president of the Latin American and Caribbean Federation of Speleology.
In addition, educational and demonstrative classes will be shared on the capture of bats using nets or meshes for their ringing and subsequent release, in order to promote the monitoring and biological study of this species, while the best works of the III Sara Isalgue In Memoriam International Speleological Photography Contest will be awarded.
According to Casals Corrella, the event also includes the presentation of the Antonio Núñez Jiménez National Speleology Award, the Annual Young Speleologist of the Year Award Yanet Carbó Rivero and the Manuel Rivero de la Calle Master of Generations Award.
The annual general assembly of the Cuban Speleological Society will be held on January 26, from that day until February 1, the Tanque Azul 2025 Practical Speleological Diving Workshop will be held as a post-congress activity and culmination of fruitful days of theoretical-practical exchange and learning.
