Here's a breakdown:
* Stalactites: These formations hang from the ceiling of a cave. They are formed when water containing dissolved minerals drips from the ceiling. As the water evaporates, the minerals are deposited, leaving behind a cone-shaped formation.
* Stalagmites: These formations grow upwards from the floor of a cave. They are formed when water containing dissolved minerals drips from stalactites above. The water then falls to the floor, depositing minerals and creating an upward-growing pillar.
* Columns: When a stalactite and a stalagmite meet, they can form a single, continuous structure called a column.
So, the pillars you see on the floor of a cavern are most likely stalagmites.
