INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM, TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY LAW refers to the existence of significant geological “files”, the history of the cave’s formation, mineralogy etc. The aesthetic values refer to the mystery and miracle of the creation of geomorphological formations of caves and the environmental landscape. The recreational values refer to the delight of exploring the interior of the cave, sailing in the underground water of caves, hiking and camping in the area around the caves, which are usually located in valleys in mountainous terrain, near waterfalls, beaches, or limestone areas. Finally, the cultural values are linked with rituals and superstitions, beliefs and desires of residents, their traditional importance, as well as historical and archaeological evidence. 2. THE SPELEOLOGICAL WEALTH OF GREECE Man and caves are linked since prehistoric times, since caves were used as a dwelling, a refuge, a place of worship, storage area, even as graves. In Greek mythology there are many references to spilaia meaning caves that hosted gods and demigods, such as the Ideon Andron (where according to Greek mythology, Zeus was raised (Μοίρα, 2018) and the Dikteon Andron, where according to ancient tradition Rhea resorted to give birth to Zeus (Μοίρα, 2005), caves in Crete, the cave of Hermes (where, according to ancient tradition Rhea resorted to give birth to Zeus) in Ziria / Achaia etc. Traces of habitation have been found in many caves, such as the cave “Red Rocks” in Petralona – Halkidiki, the cave “Alepotrypa” in Dyros – Laconia, the cave “Theopetra” in Trikala, etc. Moreover, caves have constituted a haven for many species of animals, traces of which were discovered nowadays (e.g. a type of panthers in the cave “Glyfada” of Dyros, cave bears in the Pozar cave in Aridaia and Perama Cave of Ioannina, a kind of elephant in the Vamos cave etc. Many caves are also connected with modern Greek history, like the caves in Chios that were shelters against the slaughter of the Turks in 1822, the cave-cliff of Feneos in Korinthia, where hundreds of people were precipitated during the civil war in 1943 (Χατζάρας, 2013) etc. Caves, from a biological perspective, constitute closed and stable ecosystems, particularly susceptible to external influences. In Greece caves, the temperature is usually fixed at 16 to 18° C, with intense humidity, which may reach 100 % (e.g. in the cave Drogorati in Kefalonia with humidity of 90%, or the cave of Agios Georgios in Kilkis with 95% humidity) and a total absence of natural light in the deepest halls. Many animal species usually live in caves. These species are
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