1. Cueva de los Cristales (Mexico)
Discovered in 2000 by two brothers who were drilling below the
Naica mine near Chihuahua, the Cave of Crystals is a glittering
spectacle with temperatures that can reach up to 112 degrees. Many of
the crystals, which are estimated to be about 600,000 years old, can be
several feet thick, and the smaller ones are razor sharp. Forget
diamonds; if you really love a woman, take her to a cave filled with
crystals bigger than her wildest dreams.
2. Waitomo Glowworm Cave (New Zealand)
Formed over 30 million years ago, this cave is one of the most
brilliant displays of bioluminescence on Earth. Thousands of glowworms,
which are native to New Zealand, hang from the walls of the cave from
strands of silk and use their dazzling blue light to attract prey. You
may not ever find a cavern filled with fairies, but this is pretty darn
close.
3. Grotto Azzurra (Italy)
If you’re ever near Capri, Italy, you NEED to take a trip to the
Blue Grotto. Once thought to be inhabited by sirens and devils, the
cave is known for its radiant blue water. When the sunlight enters the
cave through an underwater entrance, the water filters out the red light
and leaves only the blue light to illuminate the cavern. The result is
an incredible phenomenon that leaves no need for color enhancements on
all the photos you’ll take there.
4. Vatnajökull Glacier Cave (Iceland)
Formed entirely out of ice, glacier caves are best to visit in
the autumn and winter, when the ice isn’t as likely to collapse and the
glaciers don’t move as quickly. Many of them also take on a bright blue
color, which is common in parts of glaciers (such as the underside, or
in this case, the inside) which have not been turned white by the sun’s
UV rays. Would you be daring enough to venture inside a cave that could
melt?
5. Phraya Nakhon Cave (Thailand)
Inside the Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park is the Phraya Nakhon:
an incredible cave with an interesting history behind it. Sunlight
filters through the top of the structure’s collapsed ceiling,
illuminating the Kuha Karuhas pavilion that was originally built in 1890
for King Chulalongkorn. Since its construction, other local kings have
visited the cave and left their signatures on its walls. This is one
cave that is majestic in every sense of the word.
6. Marble Caves (Chile)
Anyone who’s willing to travel to the General Carrera Lake in
Patagonia is in for a serious treat. Crystal-clear water tinted a
dazzling blue by glacial silt accentuates the intricate designs in what
many call he most amazing cave network in the world. The water is also
responsible for forming the unique shape of the caverns and walls,
making an Earthly cave appear very otherworldly.
7. Cave at the Mutnovsky volcano (Russia)
It may seem crazy to think that an ice cave could form at the
base of a volcano, but that’s the sort of thing that tends to happen in
Russia. Hot springs have carved out the cave’s incredible shapes, while
light that filters in through the roof creates an incredible color
display of greens, purples, and blues. Many of those who have found the
cave stumbled upon it by accident while exploring the area around the
volcano, making this mysterious ice structure even more incredible.
8. Dongzhong Cave (China)
It’s thousands of years old, but now, this otherwise ordinary
cave serves as a classroom for 186 students and eight teachers. Meaning
“in cave” in Chinese, Dongzhong began its role as an educational
structure in 1984 and is now one of the coolest schools around. I would
have been way more excited to go to science class if I knew it was
happening here.
9. Fingal’s Cave (Scotland)
Although this cave on Staffa Island looks like it was
painstakingly hand-carved by someone with an affinity for hexagons, its
incredible geometric structure is completely natural. Hot lava that
helped form the cave cooled and cracked in a hexagonal pattern. As the
cracks extended down the mass of lava and shrank, it created the columns
that the cave is famous for today. Nature can be a very peculiar artist
sometimes.
10. Reed Flute Cave (China)
Ok, I’ll be honest-- the lighting in this colorful cave is
completely artificial. But does it really matter? The Reed Flute cave
has been a popular destination for well over a thousand years, as
evidenced by transcriptions inside that date back to 792 AD. It was
named for the reeds that grow just outside the entrance, which can be
made into flutes. The formations inside the cave are just incredible,
and combined with all the surreal lighting, they prove that amazing
things can happen when man and nature’s efforts combine.
11. Ellison’s Cave (USA)
Northeast Georgia is home to Ellison’s cave, which contains the
appropriately-named Fantastic cave pit. At 586 feet deep, it’s the
deepest known cave pit in the United States and a dream come true for a
dedicated rappeler. A rock dropped from the top is said to take about
eight seconds to reach the ground. If dropping almost 600 feet into a
deep, dark cave is what you fancy, then a trip to Georgia is definitely
in order.
12. Kyaut Sae Cave (Myanmar)
According to legend, Kyaut Sae Cave was originally used as a
place of hiding for locals who wanted to hide from the Mongols in the
13th century. Now, the cave has another special purpose. A Buddhist
temple, which was built on the side of a cliff, is the entrance to the
cave, which acts as a meditation area for monks. Tourists are welcome to
visit the temple, but few choose to do so. Perhaps a place as
incredible as this should be left as undisturbed as possible, anyway.
13. Son Doong Cave (Vietnam)
The world's largest cave is located in Vietnam's Quang Binh
province. First found by a local man in 1991, the cave is nearly 700
feet wide, 500 feet high, and almost six miles long. Many of the cave's
structures that have formed in its millions of years of existence are
massive enough to make explorers appear minuscule in comparison. This
must be what an ant feels like in our everyday world.
14. Eisriesenwelt Ice Caves (Austria)
The world's largest ice caves were discovered in the late 19th
century, which is pretty late considering how awe-inspiring they are.
The entire labyrinth stretches twenty-five miles, and just like all ice
caves, its structure both outside and inside is constantly changing due
to the ice that melts and refreezes. Any dedicated spelunker would be
missing out if they didn't check out Eisriesenwelt... but they'd be
well-advised to bundle up first.
15. Ordinskaya (Russia)
Exploring Ordinskaya, or the Orda Cave, in Russia's Ural region
is the perfect adventure for anyone who enjoys their time in the water.
The cave consists of over 3 miles of underwater chambers, and while it
is possible to get lost, rest assured that seeing where you're going
won't be an issue--- the water is so clear that you can see up to fifty
yards ahead. After seeing this incredible place, you might never want to
come up on dry land again.
16. Carlsbad Caverns (USA)
Located in what is now New Mexico, the Carlsbad Caverns National
Park is home to many impressive caves, all of which were created
between 4-6 million years ago. Sulfuric acid formed from mixed water
dissolved the area's limestone, widening cracks in the rock and
eventually creating the caves we know today. What makes these caves
truly notable, though, are the massive deposits of gypsum, clay, and
silt, whose presence gives the caves a fantastical and almost cartoonish
look.
17. Barton Creek Cave (Belize)
When you first enter this cave, you might not find it to be
anything too special... until you notice the skulls. Barton Creek Cave
was used by the Maya for ceremonial and burial purposes, and many of
their artifacts (and remains) still lie amongst the cave's natural
geological formations. The entrance to the cave, while beautiful,
somehow manages to give off the vibe that the place you're about to
enter is far more than just a rocky structure--- it's sacred ground.
18. Jeita Grotto (Lebanon)
Upon entering the Jeita grotto, you immediately understand why
its name translates to "roar" of water. The lower grotto floods your
ears with the sounds of the rushing water and air, which echo through
the cave's chambers. As you travel deeper, though, the sounds of nature
are replaced by a deep silence, allowing you to look around and take in
the dazzling beauty of the cave's intricate geography without any
distractions.
19. Cango Caves (South Africa)
In the Western Cape Providence of South Africa lie a series of
caverns with dramatic and colorful limestone features. Artifacts show
that many of the main cave entrances once served as homes for people
living in the Middle and Later Stone Ages, but now the structures are
used for tours for those who love a bit of adventure. Although about
four kilometers of the caves have been discovered, only a quarter of
that is open to the public. But one kilometer is plenty enough for those
who want to be awestruck by one of the African continent's greatest
wonders.
20. Aven Armand (France)
If you dare to venture 100 meters underground, the Aven Armand
will make it worth your while. It boasts over 400 unique types of
stalagmites, including the largest one known in the world, which stands
at nearly 100 feet tall. While the Eiffel Tower is certainly a sight to
behold, consider checking out Mother Nature's beautiful sculptures if
you ever get the opportunity to go to France.
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