Caves are nature’s grandeur embedded within the cavities of the hills and mountains. The earliest human fossils were found in the caves. As time rolled on several caves have been documented particularly in the region of North and South America. However the Asian counterparts still remain largely less explored and under-documented. Caves are mostly formed by dissolution of limestone. It provided shelter to men in the prehistoric era and continues to enchant the modern civilization with its magnificence. Let us find out about the 10 most awe inspiring caves in the world.
The cave of crystals is in Chihuahua Mexico and is connected to the Naica Mines. It houses numerous gigantic crystals. The largest crystal ever found here is 12 metre in length and 4 metre in diameter. The temperature within the cave is extremely hot as a result of which most of it remains unexplored. The mining company’s pumping action keep the cavern clear of water, hence, accessible. The crystals deteriorate in air and so talks are on the way that the cave will eventually be resealed and water level allowed to rise.
This wonder is in Waitomo in the North Island of Newzealand and was explored by two brave hearts for the first time in 1887. The stone formations within the cave were created when the region was still under the ocean millions of years ago. The magical part is its population of glow-worms which amazes the explorers by their twinkling glow in the complete darkness of the cave.
Cappadocia located in central Turkey rightly earned its UNESCO world Heritage tag. It is famous as an underground city with 8 stories of underground tunnels and caves. Nowadays many Cappadocia caves in this cave city have been modified into fancy hotels. It is a must visit whenever you are in the transcontinental land of Turkey.
Globe-trotters get ready to meander down the world’s biggest water cave which is liberal enough to let you take a boat ride through it. The Ali Sadr Cave is located in the Kabudarahang County north of Hamedan in west Iran. A spring in Sarab feeds the cave with water and depictions on the wall indicate the primitive men used it. In order to fully absorb the other-worldly beauty of the cave dedicate a full whole day to it.
A South American Indian contributed in making history with discovery of this cave less than a hundred years ago. It is located in the Bonito Municipality of Brazil. As exploration gained momentum a fossil of mammoth was discovered by divers in the lake of this cave. The best time to visit it is during the morning hours when the sun shines. The cobalt blue waters of the lake cast magic in the traveller’s eye.
To the south of Salzburg in Werfen, Austria lies the Eisriesenwelt Cave. It was officially discovered in 1879. It is the largest Ice cave with temperature inside below freezing point. A cable car takes you to the entrance of the cavern from where it takes 15 minutes for a roundtrip. A guided tour will interest travellers who want to know more about it.
So when all the other places are gaining a score how can the Andes lag behind? In the cavity of the Andes exist the Marble Caves roughly on the Chilean side of the Chile-Argentina border and fed by Lake General Carrera of Patagonia. Marble Cave constantly changes its looks in different seasons as the water level changes. The cave can be explored on a boat or in a Kayak.
The mention of Skocjan caves in Slovenia dates back to the second century B.C but the formal exploration was done by a team of Speleologists in 1884. It is a UNESCO world Heritage site. A special ecosystem has developed within this cave. The second phase of the cave is most mesmerizing. It would not be unlikely of you to expect Legolas or Aragorn inside while exploring the labyrinth of the Skocjan.
Salma Plateau south east of Muscat in Oman is the proud host of this cave. According to the surface area of the floor it ranks as the second largest cave of the world. It was discovered and explored in 1983. The play of a single ray of light inside the cave might bring back the memories of the Indiana Jones movie-Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Welcome to the enticing charm of the Ice cave in northern Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula near Mutnovsky volcano where fire and ice meet to create a surreal surrounding. The cave is formed by a stream that originates in the Mutnovsky volcano itself and flows under the glacier to form a hot spring. It was discovered in 2012. The cave becomes a kaleidoscope when light passes through its thin ice walls reflecting all the colours in the rainbow in the most heavenly way possible.
