Most caves form through the dissolution of limestone by acidic groundwater. Limestones of the Paleozoic age are a common bedrock in the Appalachian Plateau and Valley and Ridge provinces of northwest Georgia, and those limestones are riddled with caves and other features formed by solution processes.

The country of Georgia (specifically in the Caucasus region) is a global "cave hotspot" due to its karst topography, which is formed from the dissolution of massive limestone deposits. Millions of years ago, the region was part of an ancient marine basin; when the Caucasus Mountains were pushed upward by tectonic activity, these thick layers of limestone were exposed. Because Georgia receives significant precipitation, particularly on the southwestern slopes, rainwater (which is slightly acidic) continuously filters through the rock, chemically dissolving it to create vast underground networks. This unique combination of thick Paleozoic limestone, high elevation, and heavy rainfall has resulted in some of the deepest caves on Earth, including the Veryovkina and Krubera caves, which plunge over 2,000 meters deep. Unlike many other regions, Georgia's vertical relief allows for "mountain-to-valley" water drainage, creating these massive, multi-level vertical systems that draw explorers from all over the world.