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How do wind-eroded eolian caves form in desert sandstone cliffs?
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Stalactites and stalagmites in the Queen's Chamber, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, southeastern New Mexico.
Eolian caves are formed in desert regions through the process of wind action, specifically by scouring massive sandstone cliffs. As wind sweeps around a developing cavity, it erodes the walls, floor, and ceiling of the rock. This erosive process typically results in a bottle-shaped chamber that is generally wider in diameter than its entrance. These caves are relatively small, rarely exceeding a few tens of metres in length.1