Overview
- The Geological Survey of India formally recognized Yana Caves in Uttara Kannada as a geo-heritage site of national importance.
- A letter from Director-General Asit Saha informed the Karnataka chief secretary of the decision tied to the agency’s 176th foundation observance.
- GSI places the rock masses at about 2,700 million years old and identifies them as Precambrian dolomitic limestone.
- The area hosts 61 karst formations, led by the Bhairaveshwara Shikhara at about 120 metres and the Mohini Shikhara at about 90 metres.
- Officials say long-term tropical weathering and slightly acidic groundwater dissolved the limestone to form caves and other karst terrain, which GSI now lists among roughly 90 notable geosites in India.