Last Monday, the University of La Laguna and the Tenerife Island Council renewed their agreement, allowing technical personnel from the academic institution to continue the dynamic assessment of radon gas levels in the Cueva del Viento, located in Icod de los Vinos in the north.
The agreement was endorsed by the rector of the University of La Laguna, Francisco García, alongside José Carlos Acha, the president of the Autonomous Body of Museums and Centres of the Island Council of Tenerife. It clarifies that the essential technical work will be conducted by the staff from the Medical Physics and Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory within the General Research Support Service of the university, which has been overseeing this control since the original agreement was made in July 2022.
This renewal occurs every two years and encompasses elements such as installing detectors to assess radon gas concentration within the cave, investigating variations in this concentration based on different environmental and meteorological factors, determining the annual average of this gas, and measuring exposure doses for both occasional visitors and personnel working onsite. Furthermore, it will outline measures if exposure levels surpass the recommended limits.
Radon gas naturally emerges in rocky regions such as the Cueva del Viento. This process can become more pronounced during certain times of the year, particularly in summer when the soil tends to dry out. Continuous monitoring of its levels is necessary as prolonged exposure poses potential carcinogenic risks. Consequently, precautionary measures are implemented, such as ensuring the section accessible to tourists is more ventilated and limiting personnel work hours at this site to controlled durations.
The ongoing research is enhancing our understanding of the cave’s dynamics by analysing factors like ventilation, air circulation, and the permeability of the soil and rocks. Moreover, dosimetric tracking is being performed on the personnel working in the area to guarantee that their exposure to the gas remains within legally established safe thresholds.
The Largest Volcanic Tube in Europe
Cueva del Viento is a volcanic cavity situated in the Icod de los Vinos district of the same name. It was created 27,000 years ago from basaltic lava during the initial eruptive phase of the Pico Viejo volcano, adjacent to Teide. This volcanic tube, named for the substantial air currents inside, ranks as the sixth longest in the world (18 kilometres mapped), following the four largest located on the biggest island of the Hawaiian archipelago (United States). It features an immense labyrinthine structure of underground passages, with numerous branches still left to explore, promising to extend its length in the future.
In the previous year, the Cueva del Viento welcomed 22,837 visitors from 63 different nationalities, representing 95.5% of the total available spots. The visitor numbers for 2023 demonstrate the cave’s appeal as one of Icod and the Island’s most treasured natural wonders, even attracting local residents; last year, 4,763 Canarians explored the depths of this volcanic tube, the longest in Europe and the sixth globally. Consequently, it is no surprise that it has emerged as one of the principal cultural and tourist attractions in the northern part of Tenerife.
In 2023, 1,594 guided tours were conducted in the cave, comprising 813 in Spanish, 478 in English, 193 in German, and another 110 specifically for groups. During the school tours, 580 students from 28 institutions on the island participated, with entry fees subsidised by the Cabildo.
