A large number of secrets and mysteries are always associated with caves, 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. For many thousands of years, rainwater destroyed the stone, forming stalactites and stalagmites of bizarre shapes. 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 picturesque volcanic mountains and evergreen beaches, tourists are attracted here by 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 only remembered in 1951, when the Greek Giannis Petrohelios rediscovered and discovered it. 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 live in the cave bats. 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 fight 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 washed away upper layer glacier, 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. The very high temperature inside the cave greatly complicates the process of exploring it; 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)
The feeling of the starry sky above your head is the main feature of 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 temperatures air with a large amount 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 “gemstone glow effect”. 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 are vertical columns made of basalt with a depth of 69 m and a height of 20 m. Thanks to the curved arch, 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 largest cave in the world is located in the Quang Binh province of Vietnam. 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 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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The largest caves are complex systems passages and halls, often with a total length of up to several tens of kilometers. Caves are the object of study of speleology. Speleotourists make a significant contribution to the study of caves.
Caves according to their origin can be divided into five groups: tectonic, erosional, glacial, volcanic and, finally, the most large group- karst. The caves in the entrance area, with suitable morphology (horizontal spacious entrance) and location (close to water), were used by ancient people as comfortable dwellings.
Caves by origin
Karst caves
Most of these caves are like this. It is karst caves that have the greatest extent and depth. Karst caves are formed due to the dissolution of rocks by water, so they are found only where soluble rocks occur: limestone, marble, dolomite, chalk, as well as gypsum and salt. Limestone, and especially marble, dissolves very poorly in pure distilled water. Solubility increases several times if dissolved carbon dioxide is present in water (and it is always present in natural water), however, limestone still dissolves poorly compared to, say, gypsum or, especially, salt. But it turns out that this has a positive effect on the formation of extended caves, since gypsum and salt caves not only form quickly, but also quickly collapse.
Tectonic cracks and faults play a huge role in the formation of caves. From the maps of the studied caves one can often see that the passages are confined to tectonic disturbances that can be traced on the surface. Also, for the formation of a cave, a sufficient amount of water sediments and a successful relief shape are necessary: sediments from a large area must fall into the cave, the entrance to the cave must be located noticeably above the place where the groundwater is discharged, etc.
Many karst caves are relict systems: the water flow that formed the cave left it due to changes in the topography either to deeper levels (due to a decrease in the local basis of erosion - the bottom of neighboring river valleys), or stopped flowing into the cave due to changes in the surface catchment, after which the cave goes through various phases of aging. Very often, the caves studied are small fragments of an ancient cave system, exposed by the destruction of the host mountain ranges.
The evolution of karst processes and their chemistry are such that often water, having dissolved the mineral substances of rocks (carbonates, sulfates), after some time deposits them on the vaults and walls of caves in the form of massive crusts up to a meter thick or more (cave marble onyx) or special for each cave is an ensemble of mineral aggregates of caves, forming stalactites, stalagmites, helictites, draperies and other specific karst mineral forms - sinter formations.
IN Lately More and more caves are opening up in rocks traditionally considered non-karst. For example, in the sandstones and quartzites of the tepui table mountains of South America, the Abismo Gai Collet caves, with a depth of −671 m (2006), and Cueva Ojos de Cristal, with a length of 16 km (2009), were discovered. Apparently, these caves are also of karst origin. In hot tropical climates certain conditions quartzite can be dissolved by water.
Another exotic example of the formation of karst caves is the very long and deepest Lechugia Cave in the US mainland (and other caves in Carlsbad National Park). According to the modern hypothesis, it was formed by the dissolution of limestones by rising thermal waters saturated with sulfuric acid.
Tectonic caves
Such caves can appear in any rock as a result of the formation of tectonic faults. As a rule, such caves are found on the sides of river valleys deeply cut into the plateau, when huge masses of rock break off from the sides, forming subsidence cracks ( Sherlops). Subsidence cracks usually converge like a wedge with depth. Most often they are filled with loose sediments from the surface of the massif, but sometimes they form quite deep vertical caves up to 100 m deep. Sherlops are widespread in Eastern Siberia. They have been studied relatively poorly and are probably quite common.
Erosion caves
Caves formed in insoluble rocks due to mechanical erosion, that is, worked through by water containing grains of solid material. Often such caves are formed on the seashore under the influence of the surf, but they are small. However, the formation of caves is also possible, excavated along primary tectonic cracks by streams going underground. Quite large (hundreds of meters long) erosion caves formed in sandstones and even granites are known. Examples of large erosion caves include T.S.O.D. (Touchy Sword of Damocles) Cave in gabbro (4 km/−51 m, New York), Bat Cave in gneisses (1.7 km, North Carolina), Upper Millerton Lake Cave in granites (California).
Glacier caves
Another type of glacial caves are caves formed in a glacier at the point of release of intraglacial and subglacial waters at the edge of the glaciers. Melt water in such caves they can flow both on the glacier bed and on glacial ice.
A special type of glacial caves are caves formed in glaciers at the outlet of underground thermal waters located under the glacier. Hot water can create voluminous galleries, but such caves do not lie in the glacier itself, but underneath it, since the ice melts from below. Thermal glacial caves are found in Iceland, Greenland and reach significant sizes.
Volcanic caves
These caves appear during volcanic eruptions. The lava flow, as it cools, becomes covered with a hard crust, forming a lava tube, inside which molten rock still flows. After the eruption has actually ended, the lava flows out of the tube from the lower end, and a cavity remains inside the tube. It is clear that lava caves lie on the very surface, and often the roof collapses. However, as it turned out, lava caves can reach very large sizes, up to 65.6 km in length and 1100 m in depth (Kazumura Cave, Hawaiian Islands).
In addition to lava tubes, there are vertical volcanic caves - volcanic vents.
Caves by type of host rock
Archaeological finds
Prehistoric people used caves all over the world as homes. Even more often, animals settled in caves. Many animals died in trap caves starting from vertical wells. The extremely slow evolution of caves, their constant climate, and protection from the outside world have preserved a huge number of caves. archaeological finds. This is pollen from fossil plants, bones of long-extinct animals (cave bear, cave hyena, mammoth, woolly rhinoceros), rock paintings of ancient people (Kapova caves on Southern Urals, Divya in the Northern Urals, Tuzuksu in Kuznetsk Alatau, Niah-Caves in Malaysia), tools of their labor (Strashnaya, Okladnikova, Kaminnaya in Altai), human remains different cultures, including Neanderthals, up to 50-200 thousand years old (Teshik-Tash cave in Uzbekistan, Denisova Cave in Altai, Cro-Magnon in France and many others).
The caves may have served as modern cinemas.
Water in caves
Water is usually found in many caves, and karst caves owe their origin to it. In caves you can find condensation films, drops, streams and rivers, lakes and waterfalls. Siphons in caves significantly complicate passage and require special equipment and special training. Underwater caves are often found. In the entrance areas of caves, water is often present in a frozen state, in the form of ice deposits, often very significant and perennial.
Air in caves
In most caves the air is bad to breathe due to natural circulation, although there are caves in which you can only be in gas masks. For example, guano deposits can poison the air. However, in the vast majority of natural caves, air exchange with the surface is quite intense. The reasons for air movement are most often the temperature difference in the cave and on the surface, so the direction and intensity of circulation depend on the time of year and weather conditions. In large cavities, the air movement is so intense that it turns into wind. For this reason, air draft is one of the important signs when searching for new caves.
Cave deposits
Holy ascetics who lived in caves:
- “And Lot went out from Zoar and began to live in the mountain, and his two daughters with him, for he was afraid to live in Zoar. And he lived in a cave, and his two daughters with him" (Genesis 19.30)
- “And he the Prophet Elijah entered a cave there and spent the night in it” (3rd Book of Kings 19.9)
Caves-houses
Many peoples built their homes in caves, as they were easy to keep clean and maintain a constant temperature throughout the year.
- Sassy Di Matera
Medicinal caves
Many medical institutions have rooms called “salt caves”. The walls are lined with potassium salt bricks, and patients spend some time in them, listening to music and receiving a healing effect.
Entertaining caves
There are well-known caves of horror as part of amusement parks, cafes and bars decorated to look like caves.
Underground cavities
In addition to caves that have access to the surface and are accessible to direct study by humans, earth's crust there are closed underground cavities. The deepest underground cavity (2952 meters) was discovered by drilling on the coast of Cuba. In the Rhodope Mountains, an underground cavity was discovered at a depth of 2400 meters during drilling. On the Black Sea coast in Gagra, underground voids were discovered by drilling at a depth of up to 2300 meters.
Notes
- Maruashvili, 1969; TSB; Shchukin, 1980; Monkhouse, 1970.
- Mineral aggregates of karst caves
- “On silicate bradykarst in the tropical zone,” Maksimovich G. A. // Hydrogeology and karstology. Vol. 7. Perm, 1975: 5-14.
- History of the Sylphuric Acid Theory of Speleogenesis in the Guadalupe Mountains, New Mexico, 2000.
- OTHER CAVES, Compiled by: Bob Gulden.
- Save Millerton Lake Cave
- Images from the Millerton Lakes Cave System
- Reynaud L., Moreau L. Moulins Glaciaires des Temperes et Froids de 1986 a 1994 (Mer de Glace et Groenland). Actes du 3e Symposium International Cavites Glaciaires et Cryokarst en Regions Polaires et de Haute Montagne, Chamonix-France, 1er-6.XI.1994. Annales Litteraires de l'universite de Besancon, N 561, serie Geographie, N 34, Besancon, 1995, p. 109-113.
- Krubera Cave: Profile (English). Ukrainian Speleological Association (1999-2010) // speleogenesis.info. Archived from the original on November 27, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
- Worlds deepest caves, Compiled by: Bob Gulden
- I. Kudryavtseva, D. Lyury Geography / S.T.Ismailova. - Moscow: Avanta+, 1994. - T. 3. - P. 472. - 638 p. - ISBN 5-86529-015-0
- Message to the caving mailing list CML#13657, Yu. Kasyan, 09/10/2012.
- Message to the caving mailing list CML#13648, P. Rudko, 08/28/2012.
- Message to the caving mailing list CML#10132, A. Shelepin, 09/18/2007.
- Worlds longest caves, Compiled by: Bob Gulden
- Paleolithic Altai
- Prehistoric caves named the first movie theaters
- Wind in the Caves, A.L. Shelepin, 1995, KSK Library
Caves - this mysterious and Magic world dark kingdom, silence and silence. And the caves can rightly be called the cradle of humanity. Indeed, in prehistoric times, primitive people used caves as a refuge from the wind and cold. They were the "discoverers" of natural dungeons. The tools and wall paintings of Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons found in caves confirm this. In ancient times, some caves were considered the dwellings of the gods, others were used to shelter herds and, especially often, for burial. And in the recent past, there were cases when people who were at odds with society tried to hide in caves.
But even though the cave “cradle” was abandoned by man long ago, interest in the dungeons remained for many centuries. In the 18th century, the first expeditions began to study hard-to-reach caves.
Some historical facts:
In May 1748, the mathematician I. Nagel led an unprecedented descent into the Macocha chasm (Moravia) that was unprecedented at that time. He overcame the steep part of the entrance shaft (50 m) and reached a depth of 138 m. The theoretical ideas of this time are summarized in Citeaux de la Fond’s book “Wonders of Nature” (1788). He believed that underground voids arose “mostly through fire-breathing mountains,” and the deposits in caves represent “a kind of underground garden.” The views of Russian scientists, which unfortunately remained unknown in Western Europe, were much closer to the truth. Back in 1720, V.N. Tatishchev visited the outskirts of the city of Kungur and pointed out that the caves were the result of “dilution” (dissolution) and collapse of rocks. In 1732, I. G. Gmelin visited the Kungur cave and drew up its plan. He also made the first measurements of air temperature underground.
M.V. Lomonosov made a great contribution to the formation of knowledge about the underground world. He proved that caves have a physicochemical nature, explained the formation of “scale” on the walls of caves by the deposition of calcite from an aqueous solution, proposed Russian equivalents of the Latin terms “stalactite” and “stalagmite” (“upper drip” and “lower drip”), substantiated causes of air movement underground and the formation of cave ice.
No cave in the world is like another. Huge halls with grottoes, wells, lakes, waterfalls and glaciers.
For thousands of years, water diligently eroded the stone and created underground labyrinths of a silent world of beauty and mysteries. Seeping into the cracks of limestone, rainwater from year to year they destroy the stone, increasing the cracks. For centuries, water saturated with minerals, dripping from the ceiling of caves, forms stalactites and stalagmites, sometimes of such bizarre shapes that they are given their own names.
Calcite in caves comes in the most unusual forms: in the form of flowers, pearls, twigs, sometimes so fragile and thin that they crumble when touched.
To this day, the deep labyrinths of caves attract people to plunge into their darkness and uncover underground secrets.
Let us, at least for a little while, also plunge into this mysterious world the underground kingdom and get acquainted with its amazing beauties.
Han Son Doong Cave. Vietnam.
Hang Son Dung Cave (Mountain River Cave) is located in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and was discovered in April 2009 by British speleologists. The cave system turned out to be huge. British researchers suggest that this cave is the largest in volume in the world!
In the underground hall of the Hang Son Dung cave there is enough space even for a 40-story skyscraper. The largest hall of the cave has a total length of more than 5000 meters. The total length of the cave is 9000 meters. The width of the halls and corridors is 100 meters, and the height reaches 200 meters. At the same time, the Deer Cave, located in Malaysia and one of the largest caves in the world, has a height of halls not exceeding 100 meters and a width of 90.
Hang Son Dong Cave - a jungle cave! In the vaults of the cave there are gaps through which light penetrates, and as a result of this, plants grow in the cave - the limestone ledges are covered with a carpet of delicate greenery. Following the plants, not only insects and snakes, but even monkeys and birds descend into the cave. The Rao Tuong River has created tunnels in solid rock over many centuries. During the dry months the river becomes a small stream, but during the rainy season the underground river becomes full again, so that in some places it comes to the surface of the earth.
The largest cave in the world. National Geographic film.
Cave of Swallows (Sotano de las Golondrinas). Mexico.
Sotano de las Golondrinas or Cave of Swallows is located in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi. The entrance to the cave is a huge hole in the mountain with a diameter of 55 meters. When descending into the neck of the cave, after a few meters there is an expansion to 160 meters, which creates difficulties during the descent and ascent. This is what attracts fans of extreme sports here. The cave is one of the deepest caves in Mexico, its depth reaches 376 meters, which is comparable to the height of a 120-story building. The floor of the Swallow Cave is sloped and has many narrow tunnels and passages that lead to deeper levels. To date, they have not been particularly well studied.
The cave got its name due to the huge colony of swallows that live here. And in order not to disturb the quiet life of birds, descents into the cave are allowed only at certain times: from 12 to 16 hours, when the birds leave it. In addition, this saves not only the lives of swallows, but also those who enjoy extreme skydiving. After all, a collision with a flock of birds during a free flight is very dangerous.
Recently, the Swallow Cave has become a real Mecca for speleologists and base jumpers.
Cave of Giant Crystals (Cueva de los Cristales). Mexico.
The Cave of Crystals (Cueva de los Cristales) is located in the Naica mine complex, in the Mexican desert of the state of Chihuahua at a depth of 300 meters. The cave is unique in that it contains giant crystals of selenite (a mineral, a type of gypsum). These are the largest natural crystals ever found on the planet - the transparent gypsum rays reach sizes of 11 meters in length and weigh about 55 tons.
The cave was discovered in 2000 while digging a tunnel in the mine complex. The climate in the cave is unusual - it is very hot in the cave! Temperatures reach 50-60°C with a humidity of more than 90%; a person can stay in such conditions without a special suit for more than ten minutes. Access to the cave is open only to scientists exploring it in special equipment.
In the cave of crystals. National Geographic film.
Fingal's Singing Cave. Scotland.
Fingal's Cave is located on the southwestern coast of Staffa Island (one of the Hybrid Islands). The island is only 1 kilometer long and half a kilometer wide. Over many millennia, the sea surf and rains have carved out a whole system of caves, the largest of which is the singing cave of Fingal, which received its name in honor of the hero of the Irish and Gaelic epic, the giant Fingal.
The walls of Fingal's Cave are made up of vertical hexagonal basalt columns. The length of the cave is 75 meters, height 20 meters and width 14 meters. In Gaelic the cave is called Uamh-Binn, which can be translated as "cave of melody". Indeed, thanks to the dome-like arch, this place has unique acoustics. In calm weather, the waves of the sea produce peculiar melodic sounds in the cave, in a storm and during sea tides - a loud noise that can be heard for several miles.
The cave has a large arched entrance; you can get into it along a narrow path lined with fragments of basalt columns.
The Gouffre Berger cave is located on the Sornen plateau in the French Alps. The name of the cave comes from the Latin word "gufr", which means "abyss", and the name of the scientist Joseph Berger, who discovered it in 1953. This is the first cave to be explored to a depth of more than one kilometer and until 1963 was considered the deepest cave in the world. Its depth is 1271 meters, which is comparable to the height of two Ostankino towers placed on top of each other, and the length of the passages is over 30 kilometers. Today the cave ranks 23rd in depth in the world and 4th in France. However, to this day it is a popular place for speleologists who want to test their skills at a depth of several hundred meters. This cave is technically very difficult. For example, it can take from 15 to 30 hours to rise from the very bottom to the surface. In addition, floods often occur here. Over the past few years, 6 people have died in Berge, five of whom drowned.
Three Bridge Chasm is a limestone cave of the Jurassic period. The Baatara waterfall will fall into its abyss, from a height of 255 meters. This unusual place is located in Lebanon. It was discovered by French bio-spelunker Henri Coiffait in 1952. The cave owes its name to the fact that as it falls into the valley, the stream passes through three natural bridges, each of which hangs over the other. The age of the cave reaches 160 million years! For thousands of years, water from the stream slowly washed the limestone and gradually destroyed the cave arches. After the appearance of the upper bridge, it was destroyed for a long time by vertical and circular erosion, which, in combination with a series of collapses, created the middle and lower bridges.
Even today, the formation of the cave is not complete - and it will not be completed as long as the water flows.
Volcanic cave Cueva de los Verdes. Canary Islands (Spain).
The Cueva de los Verdes cave was formed about five thousand years ago as a result of the eruption of the Corona volcano. When the lava rushed to the ocean, forming the so-called “lava tube” - a tunnel more than 6 kilometers long, one of the longest on the planet.
The lava flow outside was cooled by air and solidified, creating the walls and roof of the tunnel, while molten magma continued to flow inside. This is how it turned out to be volcanic Cueva de los Verdes cave. The hot gases released from the lava, mixing with air, ignited; under the influence of high temperatures that melted the vault, grooves and swells similar to stalactites appeared on the ceiling of the cave. The remains of the lava, as it solidified, formed many folds and wrinkles, decorating the floor of the cave with intricate patterns.
The cave stretches in the form of a tunnel for 6.1 kilometers from the crater of the volcano to the seashore; the difference is 230 meters. The width of the cave reaches 24 meters, height - up to 15 meters. The air temperature in the cave remains constant throughout the year: 19°C.
The cave has two tiers - the upper, more spacious one, on which there is a concert hall with excellent natural acoustics, which is periodically used for its intended purpose.
At the bottom of the cave, called Jameos del Agua, there is an underground lake.
Ice cave Skaftafell. Iceland.
Ice caves are temporary structures that appear at the edge of glaciers. Such caves have a relatively short lifespan and can be destroyed at any moment. Ice caves are only tens of years old. But they look amazingly beautiful from the inside. One of these caves is located in natural park Skaftafell in Iceland.
Skaftafell Cave was formed in a glacier as a result of melting ice. Melt water together with rain, having collected on the surface of the glacier, rushed into the cracks in streams, penetrating inside and forming peculiar tunnels. Sunlight, penetrating through the ice, gives the cave an unusual blue color.
A seven-meter ice tunnel leads into the Skaftafell cave, which gradually narrows to 1 meter.
Ice caves are in a constant state of transformation and can be destroyed at any time. It is safe to visit them only in winter, when severe sub-zero temperatures harden the ice. And even in this case, while inside the cave, you can hear a very frequent crackling sound. This sound does not arise from the fact that the cave is ready to collapse, but because the cave moves along with the glacier itself at a certain speed, sometimes reaching 1 meter per day. Every time the glacier moves and comes into contact with solid rock, you can hear this loud, scary grinding sound.
Marble caves. Chile.
Marble Caves are one of the most beautiful places in Patagonia. They are bright blue grottoes filled with water from Lake Carrera. The lake is located
Partially submerged by the turquoise water of the lake, the caves can be explored at small boat or kayak. There are three main grottoes in the caves: the Chapel (La capillaries), the Cathedral (El Catedral) and the Cave (Cueva).
Today, this rare and amazing natural wonder is under threat due to plans to build five large dams in the region.
Video. Marble Caves, Patagonia, Chile.
Vardzia is a cave monastery complex of the 12th-13th centuries, located in the south of Georgia, on the border of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. Vardzia represents a real underground city with many tunnels, stairs and alleys. Located in the valley of the Kura (Mtkvari) river in the steep tuff wall of Mount Erusheti (Bear). Inside the rock there was a place not only for a monastery, but also for several libraries, baths and many residential buildings. A total of 13 levels were built, with natural caves expanded to accommodate 6,000 monks and refugees. Numbers over 600 various rooms, which stretch along the mountain for a distance of more than a kilometer, and the entire underground complex goes 50 meters deep into the rock. Secret passages connecting the premises, the remains of the water supply and irrigation system have been preserved.
A little history:
The ensemble of the Vardzia Monastery was created mainly in 1156-1205, during the reign of George III and his daughter Queen Tamara. Located on the southwestern border of Georgia, the monastery-fortress blocked the Kura River gorge to the invasion of Iranians and Turks from the south. At that time, all the premises of the monastery were hidden by a rock; they were connected to the surface only by three underground passages, through which large detachments of soldiers could appear completely unexpectedly for the enemy. In 1193-1195, during the war with the Seljuk Turks, Queen Tamara was with her court in Vardzia.
The cave city did not last long - a year after construction, the earthquake of 1283 almost completely destroyed it. It was so powerful that it damaged the cave system, causing them to collapse and cascade down Mount Erushelhi. Two-thirds of the hidden city was destroyed, revealing a secret world within the mountain. However, the monastery did not give up. It functioned until 1551, but then it was attacked by the Persian khan Sash Tahmasp, who killed all the monks. It was then that Vardzia became empty.
For a long time, the cave city was abandoned, but at the end of the last century, Vardzia was restored again, and monastic life resumed there. Currently in the monastery ancient city About 10-15 monks live there.
When compiling the review, photographs were used from the Internet, descriptions were translated from local sites where the photographs were found.