Always connected with caves a large number of secrets and mysteries, because this is a whole world of magic, silence and silence. Even in ancient times, caves were used to shelter humans and animals, and some were even considered the abodes of the gods. In nature, no two caves are identical, because some have lakes, others have halls with grottoes, wells, glaciers and waterfalls. Many thousands of years rainwater destroyed the stone, forming stalactites and stalagmites of bizarre shape. In some caves, calcite forms in the form of pearls, flowers, and thin twigs that crumble at the slightest touch. We present to your attention a rating of the most amazing and beautiful caves in the world.
1. Cave of Giant Crystals, Mexico
A cave of giant crystals in Mexico was discovered by ordinary miners working in the south of the country. At the depth of a three-hundred-meter shaft, they discovered a cave literally strewn with huge crystals from the inside. The crystals in the caves are translucent, and their color varies from bright white to golden. Crystals have a rectangular or cylindrical shape, and their length reaches several meters. The base of the cave is stone, which indicates its ancient origin. The huge crystals in it were formed by nature over several million years. Apparently, the room of the Crystal Cave was previously filled with rock, which was gradually washed away by underground waters, after which such unusual formations remained.
2. Na Pali Coast Cave in Kauai, Hawaii
The Hawaiian island of Kauai was created more than 5 million years ago as a result of volcanic activity in the area. One of the island's most spectacular attractions is the Na Pali Coast. Here the rocks practically hang over the sea, and on their surface grow exotic plants and various birds nest. In addition to the picturesque volcanic mountains and evergreen beaches, tourists are attracted here mysterious caves. Over the course of many centuries, sea waves methodically carved out volcanic rocks, thus forming the caves of Hawaii. In the caves you can enjoy virgin nature and sea views.
3. Melissani Cave, Greece
Located on the Greek island of Kefalonia, the Melissani Cave was forgotten for several centuries and was remembered only in 1951, when the Greek Giannis Petrohelios found and opened it again. After all, even in Greek mythology, this cave was mentioned as the home of nymphs. The reason for such a wild imagination of the ancient Greeks is quite clear - the cave with its turquoise lake, surrounded by a dense forest, looks truly fabulous. The Melissani cave has a stone base on which there are shallow azure waters, at the top there is a huge stone dome with a huge hole through which sunlight enters deep into the cave, creating amazing reflections on its walls. The entrance to the Melissani cave is also very picturesque - it is overgrown with greenery, and the “door” is decorated with natural brownish stone “plaster”.
4. Skocjan Caves, Slovenia
One of the most famous karst cave systems on our planet are the Škocjan Caves. On the beautiful Kras Plateau, located in the southwest of Slovenia, are these wonderful caves, officially recognized as a nature reserve and a World Heritage Site. The Škocjan Caves owe their appearance to a local river flowing through it called “River”, which over the centuries has “cut down” the caves in the karst deposits. However, as a result of water erosion, several vaults of the cave collapsed, forming the “Mala Dolina” and “Velika Dolina” karst sinkholes, separated by a natural bridge. On the territory of the “Velika Dolina” the River goes underground, appearing on the surface after 34 kilometers already in Italy. In addition, on the territory of the Škocjan Caves there are many dangerous sinkholes, sinkholes and small waterfalls. The largest European grotto, the Martel Hall, is also located in the caves.
5. Marble Caves in Chile Chico, Chile
High in the Andes lies one of the deepest lakes in the world - Lago General Carrera (Chilean name) or Lago Buenos Aires (Argentine name), since the lake is located on the border of Chile and Argentina. Not far from the Chilean city of Chile Chico are the famous Marble Caves. Although the walls of the caves are not made of marble at all, but of limestone, against the backdrop of turquoise water its vaults, which have white and blue tones of color, look very impressive. Thanks to this natural beauty, thousands of tourists come to see the Marble Caves every year. Small pleasure boats bring tourists here, allowing them to see all the splendor of the colors of the cave, as well as look into the natural windows, as if they had melted in the walls of the labyrinth of Marble Caves - boats can no longer pass there. In addition to the amazing Marble Caves, fishing lovers also come to the lake, because its waters are rich in trout and salmon, as well as some other types of fish.
6. Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, USA
Mammoth Cave is located in the US state of Kentucky. This unique karst cave has a unique microclimate. The cave was discovered about 4,000 years ago, and remains of ancient torches are still found in it. The cave was used by local tribes for various purposes. American scientists have discovered the mummy of a man who died in this cave more than 2,000 years ago. After numerous studies, scientists came to the conclusion that people were engaged in gypsum mining here. A rare species of shrimp, crayfish and blind fish were discovered in the underground river. In addition, flocks of bats live in the cave. Already from the end of the 19th century, Mammoth Cave became a tourist attraction, for which purpose electric lighting was installed along its entire length. However, if you wish, you can walk through the cave as in ancient times - with a paraffin lamp.
7. Prices of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Coenotes are peculiar formations in caves that appear in rocks under the influence of water. South of the Mexican resort of Cancun, located on the Yucatan Peninsula, there is one of the most beautiful cenotes. According to some data, in ancient times Yucatan was an underwater reef. After the water left, huge caves remained. The caves and grottos of Yucatan are completely underground. There are no land rivers on the peninsula - they all flow underground. The Mayan people once considered cenotes sacred and drank water from them during religious ceremonies. Tourists from all over the world come to Yucatan to swim, dive and admire the underground landscapes. And ancient stalactites and stalagmites make the underwater world truly fabulous. Through the cracks of the caves, sunlight penetrates into the cenotes, giving them a special beauty.
8. Blue Caves, Greece, Zakynthos Island
Zakynthos, one of the largest Greek islands, is home to the amazing Blue Caves. The island has become popular among tourists due to its picturesque surroundings, including beaches and villages. In the village of Volaims there is the Blue Cave, which can only be reached through the sea, as is the case with most of the island. If you visit the Blue Cave at sunset or sunrise, you can enjoy the blue color of the sky and ocean reflected in it. Over many years of water erosion, the rocks have acquired the appearance of amazing natural arches. Thanks to the unusual light effects of the Blue Caves, this place is one of the most visited in Greece. In addition to the beautiful caves, Zakynthos has a famous beach, considered one of the best in the world.
9. Fingal's Singing Cave, Scotland
Over many centuries, on the island of Staffa (the island belongs to the Inner Hebrides group of islands) in Scotland, rain and sea formed one of the largest caves in the world - the Singing Cave of Fingal. The cave owes its name to the famous Scottish poet James Macpherson. According to legend, the giant Fingal, in order to connect Scotland and Ireland, built a dam along which a huge giant walked into his home, while Fingal lay down to rest before the battle with him. However, his wife turned out to be resourceful and said that it was the baby, the son of Fingal, who was sleeping. The huge giant imagined the size of this “baby’s” father and ran away in fear, destroying the dam behind him. According to legend, Staff Island is part of this dam. The second reason for the name of the cave is the Geltish meaning of the phrase “Cave of Melodies”. The name was given to the cave due to the fact that during the surf, the cave hall repeatedly repeats the sounds of the sea, as if singing!
10. Skaftafell Ice Cave, Iceland
Surprisingly beautiful structures - ice caves - often form on the edge of glaciers. In Iceland, on the lagoon of the Svínafellsjökull glacier, there is the famous Skaftafell Cave. Over the past centuries, the glacier has been compressed so much that there are almost no air bubbles, due to which almost all sunlight is absorbed, except for the blue fraction visible inside the cave with the naked eye. Although such blue ice is only possible when the top layer of the glacier is washed away, for example, in winter. However, similar light occurs in floating icebergs and other ice caves. The Skaftafell cave has a seven-meter entrance on the shore. At the end the cave narrows to one meter. However, visiting ice caves is not safe, as it is constantly transforming and can collapse at any time. Only in winter is visiting such caves relatively safe. Because ice caves move with the glacier, cracking sounds can often be heard inside them.
What could be better than the mountains? Only mountains, you say. And you'll be right. But there are still many wonders of nature, and they can be just under our feet.
As you probably already guessed, we will talk about caves. Exploring the depths of the underground is always an interesting, unusual, albeit risky activity. Descending deep into the cave around various stalactites and other rocks in the darkness is an indescribable feeling.
To inspire you to connect with nature, LifeGuide I have prepared for you a short excursion to the most beautiful caves in the world:
Cave of Crystals (Mexico)
The cave, located in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, is famous for its huge crystals of a mineral called selenite. Very heat inside the cave makes the process of exploring it much more difficult; even with special equipment it is possible to stay there for no more than 20 minutes. The cave was discovered by two Sanchez miner brothers only in 2000, despite the fact that it had supposedly existed for a couple of million years.
Waitomo Cave "Glowworm" (New Zealand)
Feeling the starry sky above your head - main feature this cave. Thousands of firefly larvae, found only in New Zealand, hang on the walls of the cave and give it that same glowing effect.
Blue Grotto (Italy)
This grotto is located on the shore of the island of Capri, Italy. Known for its blue water, the grotto is a very popular destination among tourists. However, you can only get there by boat, and only in favorable weather.
Vatnaekul Ice Cave (Iceland)
Glaciers were formed over centuries due to a combination of low air temperatures and large amounts of solid precipitation. As a result of the absence of air bubbles in the glaciers, when sunlight is absorbed, this cave acquires a beautiful azure blue hue, giving a “glow effect” precious stones" It is recommended to visit the cave in winter period due to the risk of melting water.
Cave Phraya Nakhon (Thailand)
One of the most beautiful caves in Thailand. It is located in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park in southern Thailand. The main attraction of this place is the Kuha Karuhas Pavilion, built in 1890 by King Chulalongkorn. The cave was named after the ruler of Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Phraya Nakhon, who accidentally discovered it during a storm.
Marble Caves (Chile)
One of the deepest lakes on the planet, Lake General Carrera (on the Chilean side) adds to the beauty of these caves with its clear blue water. And, despite the fact that the caves are called “marble”, they are located on limestone islands.
Cave in Mutnovsky volcano (Russia)
At first glance, the existence of an ice cave inside a volcano may seem strange. However, this is actually true. While exploring the area around the Mutnovsky volcano, the cave was discovered by accident. was an absolutely incredible find. The light passing through the ceiling of the caves creates an amazingly varied play of colors in them.
Dongzhong Cave (China)
The Chinese Dongzhong Cave is located in Guizhou Province. It was formed several thousand years ago, but since 1984 it began to be used as... an educational institution.
Fingal's Cave (Scotland)
Washed up in the rock sea water, Fingal's Cave is located on the island of Staffa and is part of the Inner Hebrides group of islands. On its walls there are vertical basalt columns 69 m deep and 20 m high. Thanks to the curved vault, the cave has unique acoustics.
Reed Flute Cave (China)
Located in Guilin City, this cave was named after the reeds growing around it. Modern lighting further emphasizes the beauty of the rocks formed inside.
Ellison Cave (USA)
The cave is located in northeast Georgia. This is an ideal place for extreme sports lovers and speleologists. Its depth reaches 179 m.
SAE Kyaut Cave (Myanmar)
At the entrance to this cave there is a Buddhist temple, which is also a favorite place for tourists.
Son Doong Cave (Vietnam)
The most big cave in the world is located in the Vietnamese province of Quang Binh. It has become known to local residents since 1991. The total volume of the cave is estimated at 38.5 million m³.
Ice caves Eisriesenwelt (Austria)
The largest ice caves were discovered in the late 19th century. The structure of the caves is constantly changing due to ice, which either melts or freezes again.
Ordinskaya Cave (Russia)
Ordinskaya Cave is the longest flooded cave in Russia and is in 25th place among the longest gypsum caves in the world. Thanks to the clean, clear water, this place is good for diving.
Carlsbad Caverns (USA)
Located in New Mexico, in Carlsbad National Park. The caves were formed 4-6 million years ago by dissolving limestone with sulfuric acid. What makes them remarkable are the deposits of gypsum, silt and clay, which gave them this fantastic appearance.
Barton Creek Cave (Belize)
At first glance, an ordinary beautiful cave... until you come across some kind of skull. At one time, the Mayan Indians performed their rituals and sacrifices there. Many artifacts preserved from those times still lie among the cave formations.
Jeita Grotto (Lebanon)
Once you enter this cave, you will immediately understand why its name translates to “roar of water.” At the bottom of the grotto, you will be deafened by the sounds of rushing water and air due to the loud echo. However, in the depths of the caves there is the deepest silence, which will allow you to admire it without any distractions.
Kango Caves (South Africa)
This is a network of limestone caves. Artifacts show that many of the main entrances to the cave served as dwellings for people of the Middle and later Stone Ages. These caves are one of the greatest wonders of the African continent.
Aven Armand (France)
If you dream of going underground to a depth of 100 m, then this is the place for you. The cave is unique for its stalagmites (more than 400 types), including the largest known in the world at almost 30 m in height. Of course, the symbol of France is undoubtedly the Eiffel Tower, but it is still worth seeing the natural sculptures that are located underground.
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Caves have always attracted people with their mystery, uniqueness, and original combinations bizarre sculptures, often reminiscent of fantasy images of mythical heroes.
Grottoes often served many people as a roof over their heads, a reliable shelter from bad weather, and a place of blessed hermitage. And now that many of them have become accessible to visitors, anyone can become a little closer to their own history, which is so fascinating and alluring.
Kungur cave
She is considered the most beautiful in Russia. And this is not surprising, because, once inside, every person experiences a strong feeling that he has entered the very kingdom of the Snow Queen. All this is because the entire cave surface is covered with eternal layers of ice and frost. According to scientists, the age of the ice layers reaches about 10 thousand years.
The views that tourists have the opportunity to admire are truly impressive. Ice droplets here gather into magnificent crystals, shimmering in many colors. This is achieved thanks to a lighting system based on laser illumination. There are also man-made ice sculptures here.
Surprisingly, despite the eternally reigning cold, a person once lived in the cave. This is evidenced by the hermit's hut discovered here, a dug well, as well as a lost bast shoe.
Where is it located and how to get there? The cave is located near the city of Kungur (Perm region). You can get here by bus from Yekaterinburg.
Batovskaya Cave
It is considered the longest cave in all of Russia, because its length reaches about 62,103 meters.
The cave was discovered completely by accident: a local hunter, following the trail of a bear, suddenly came across the entrance to it.
Inside the grotto there are permanent lakes one and a half meters deep and ten meters long. The uniqueness of the attraction lies in the fact that it is based on both limestone and sandstone. And this is rare, since most karst caves consist exclusively of limestone. Botovskaya Cave is considered a horizontal type cave, representing a labyrinth of intricate passages.
Where is it located and how to get there? The facility is located in the Irkutsk region, near the village of Konoshalovo. It is recommended to consult guides to get to the cave. It is impossible to drive close to the entrance by car.
Barlog's Throat
It is considered the deepest cave in Russia. So, its depth is about 900 meters, and its length reaches 3000 meters. It got its name in honor of the character of the same name from The Lord of the Rings. After all, when the researchers had to go deep down, negotiating the path along a narrow well, it seemed that they had made their way through the throat of a fantastic monster.
The cave is relatively young, as it was discovered only in 1994. The entrance to the grotto is located at the highest point of the Atsgara River; its peak reaches a height of 2825 meters above sea level.
Where is it located and how to get there? Barlog's Throat is located in the Urupsky region of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. Take a bus to Kurdzhinovo, then rent a car. If the road is not washed out, then you can get to Mostovskaya Polyana on the Zagedanka River.
Kapova cave (Shulgan-tash cave)
She gained worldwide fame thanks to Paleolithic drawings. The age of the rock paintings is impressive: about 14–14.5 thousand years. The size of the drawings is also considered rare (ranging from 44–112 centimeters). Some of them are made with red ocher, and the rest with charcoal. Quite curious is the fact that no traces of soot were found on the ceiling of the object (after all, light was required to complete the drawings). But, as it turned out later, ancient people had a certain analogue of a kerosene lamp, in which fat acted as an alternative to kerosene.
As a result of archaeological excavations, it was possible to find human skulls without skeletons. It is assumed that the separate burial of the head indicated the importance of the deceased person. It is possible that the heads belonged to a shaman and leaders, since previously the cave was an analogue of a sanctuary where certain rituals took place.
Where is it located and how to get there? Located in the Burzyansky district of Bashkiria on Southern Urals, in the Shulgan-Tash nature reserve. You need to go from Ufa to Sterlitamak, turn to Beloretsk. Before reaching it 50 km, turn to Starosubkhangulovo. Drive to Mindigulovo, then follow the sign “Shulgan-Tash”.
Vorontsov Cave
It ranks sixth among the longest caves in Russia (length is 11,720 meters). It is the largest cave system in the Caucasus.
During archaeological excavations in the cave, traces were found ancient man(from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages). And during the period Civil War the grotto acted as a reliable shelter for the Red partisans.
Vorontsovskaya Cave is also called an excellent geological monument. For example, the length of the stalactites is impressive. In the same Labyrinth Cave (which is a continuation of Vorontsovskaya), a stalactite called Rocket rises more than 6 meters high.
Where is it located and how to get there? Located near the city of Sochi. You can get there from Khosta by car. But you should keep in mind that regular buses will only take you to Kalinovoe Lake, from where you will have to walk 5–7 kilometers.
Akhshtyrskaya cave
The uniqueness of this attraction is that it was once inhabited primitive people, as evidenced by the discovered objects, traces and rock tempera.
The first settlement arose in a cave 70 thousand years ago. Its main representatives were Neanderthals. Then for 20 thousand years the grotto was empty. And about 30-35 thousand years ago it was inhabited by Cro-Magnons. In later times, people also lived in the cave. Such gaps between settlements arose during a period of time when the cave (based on the same indicators of dampness) was not suitable for habitation. But if people did not live in it, then it was still not empty, becoming a refuge for bears.
Regarding the Akhshtyrskaya Cave, a rather interesting assumption was made by mythologists who claim that Odysseus once met with the Cyclops here.
Where is it located and how to get there? The cave is located 15 kilometers from Adler. You can get there along the way from the trout hatchery or by bus from Adler.
Where is it located and how to get there? Located in Khakassia, 9 kilometers south from the village of Topanova. You can get there along the Shira – Kommunar highway.
Caves are natural voids under the surface of the earth or in the depths of mountains, the study of which is the science of speleology. Many caves look incredibly beautiful, others attract with their bizarre formations, and others with their colossal sizes.
1. Son Doong (Vietnam)
The largest cave in the world is located in the Vietnamese province of Quang Binh, within the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. In 1991, peasant Ho Han first found the entrance to a cave lost in the jungle, however, he was afraid to go down there because the descent was too steep and the roar of water coming from there. Only in 2009, British speleologists from G. Limbert’s group were able to go down into the cave and begin studying it. Later they announced the official discovery of the Son Doong cave, and also that it is the largest in the world in size.
The width of this cave turned out to be 150 meters, and the height was even greater - about 200 meters. A fast underground river flows through the cave, which completely floods some areas during the monsoon season. The cave has its own climate, low-growing jungle grows, and due to the temperature difference above, a kind of clouds are formed. Above the giant cavity in the ground, gaps have formed in two places through which sunlight can penetrate inside, which makes it possible for trees up to 3 meters high to grow here.
The fauna and flora of Shondong is an interesting subject for research by scientists. Many species of plants grow in the cave; unusual ones for such a unexpected place, like a cave, animal species: monkeys, flying foxes, hornbills.
2. Lubang Nasib Bagus (Malaysia)
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This cave contains the largest grotto on the planet, Sarawak, which is 600 m long, 100 m high, and 415 m wide. The volume of the entire Lubang Nasib Bagus cave system reaches 25 million cubic meters. The cave was discovered by a trio of British speleologists in 1981 while exploring a karst massif in Gunung Mulu National Park. The researchers entered the cave, moving up the river flowing from it. There they found themselves in a grotto, the arches of which could not be reached by the light of the powerful lanterns they had. It immediately became clear that the size of the cave was colossal. The cave could fit 50 large airliners.
3. Miao (China)
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The next huge cave is located in China. Above it is a hilly area. You can also get to the Miao Cave by moving along the bed of an underground river. This cave was discovered in 1989 by a joint expedition in which the Chinese and Europeans participated. Miao belongs to a huge network of caves located in Ziyun Getu He Chuandong National Park. Laser scanning had to be used to determine the boundaries of the cave arches. Research has shown the volume of this cave to be 10.78 million cubic meters. m.
The first traces of human presence on Abkhazian soil are more than 300,000 years old. Abkhazia boasts a unique combination of mountainous terrain and...
4. Eisriesenwelt (Austria)
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Eisriesenwelt is the world's largest ice cave, where all year round supported negative temperature. The cave stretches for 42 kilometers, descending to a depth of 407 meters. People have long suspected its existence, but it was discovered by naturalist Anton von Posselt-Kzorich in 1879. It was carefully examined by local speleologist Alexander von Merck, who died in the First World War. world war and buried in one of the niches of this cave. Nowadays, Eisriesenwelt Cave has become a prominent tourist attraction. The very first excursion here was held in 1920, and today it is visited by about 150,000 people from May to October, but in winter the entrance is closed due to the danger of avalanches.
5. Red Cave (Crimea)
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About a third of the territory of Crimea is dotted with caves, so it is not surprising that there is also room for a huge cave system that stretches for 25 kilometers. There is a chain of underground grottoes on the Crimean peninsula different sizes and looking different, but they are connected by a difficult and confusing labyrinth. The area of the Red Cave is 52,000 square meters. m. True, tourists here are allowed no further than 500 m into the cave, and even then only in the presence of a guide.
This cave invariably attracts the attention of speleologists who examine the bizarre deposits on the cave walls and huge stalagmites. A river flows through the cave with very clean water- so transparent that its presence can sometimes be guessed only by the glare of light.
6. Mammoth Cave (USA)
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This is the longest cave in the world, located in Kentucky, in the national park of the same name. Its total length is over 587 km. But the real length of the cave is even greater; this is only what scientists have been able to explore to date. So far, 20 huge halls and 225 underground passages have been discovered in the cave system. The name of the cave was given for its enormous size, and there is no connection with prehistoric extinct animals. Along one of the branches of the cave flows big river Echo has a width of 60 m and a depth in some places of up to 10 m.
Scientists have suggested that this cave appeared over 10 million years ago. The Indians knew about its existence, and proof of this was the discovery of Indian burials with mummies in the depths of the cave. Pale-faced Americans discovered the cave at the end of the 18th century.
7. Sac Actun (Mexico)
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This grandiose cave, located on the Yucatan Peninsula, differs from others in that it is almost completely flooded. A large river of the same name flows through it. By the way, the name translates as “white cave”. The length of this cave system exceeds 317 km, of which only 5 km are not flooded. These are large caves, stretched out in a chain and connected by passages. Speleologists began studying it only in 1987, but since then they have succeeded in researching no more than one percent of its components. It is impossible to know how many secrets this cave, formed 65 million years ago and which saw dinosaurs, hides.
8. Krubera-Voronya (Abkhazia)
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If this is not the largest cave in the world in terms of volume or length, it is certainly the deepest cave explored by speleologists. It is located on the territory of Abkhazia, in the Arabica mountain range. This cave was first discovered by an expedition of speleologists from the Institute of Geography named after. V. Bagrationi at the Academy of Sciences of the Georgian SSR in 1960. The entrance to the cave is located high in the mountains - at a level of 2250 meters. This is a so-called subvertical type cave, that is, it consists of a number of wells connected to each other by galleries and manholes. In 2014, another entrance to the Krubera-Voronya cave was discovered at approximately the same height (2253 meters). Having descended 200 meters below the entrance, the cave is divided into two main branches: the Main and Nekuibyshevskaya. Those even lower are divided into many smaller branches. Thanks to the higher second entrance, the world record for the depth of the cave system also rose slightly, reaching a value of 2199 meters.
9. Sarma (Abkhazia)
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Another cave, also located in Abkhazia, and next to Krubera-Voronya - in the Arabica mountain range, is also one of the deepest in the world. It was discovered by Sergei Shipitsyn, and it was relatively recently - in 1990. The entrance to this cave is located a little lower - at an altitude of 2150 meters above sea level. At the moment, it has been possible to establish its depth at 1830 meters. Both caves are formed by soft gypsum and limestone rocks. Many Russian speleologists studied this cave: Anatoly Bezverkhy, Rafail Safin, Alexander Verbitsky, Vasily Sukhachev, Artyom Kalachev, Alexander Osintsev, Andrey Zakrepa, Vladimir Plotnikov, Pavel Rudko, Evgeny Koreshnikov and many others.
Located in the Caucasus Mountains, Georgia is a small but very beautiful country. Georgians themselves love their homeland very much and glorify it in wonderful...
10. Optimistic Cave (Ukraine)
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This huge cave received its optimistic name because other speleologists, who were skeptical about the possibility of studying it, began to call their Lvov colleagues who advocated it optimists. But the latter turned out to be right - since the discovery of the cave in 1966 by Lviv speleologists, over 200 expeditions have been sent to it. Initially, it was thought that it was just a crack no more than 3 meters long, but when they were able to penetrate deeper into it, it became clear that this was one of the largest caves in the world.
This cave is located on the territory of the Ternopil region. Optimistic Cave became the longest gypsum cave in the world. So far we have been able to explore 230 kilometers, but the actual length of the cave is much greater, and many more secrets hidden underground await researchers.