Have you ever wondered what it might have been for our ancestors to live in caves, hunt animals to feed themselves and light fire to survive the chill ? We may have traveled the evolutionary path and come a long way to call ourselves modern and civilized, but it doesn’t take away from the thrill to explore the primordial dwelling places of the human life. The mystery and excitement of uncovering the treasures of the past hidden in the caves is just too irresistible for an avid traveler. Let’s have a look at some of the most exciting and well-traveled caves around the world.
Eisriesenwelt Ice caves, Austria
Eisriesenwelt Ice caves are some of the most attractive caves in the whole world. Being the largest ice caves this beauty captivates the imagination of hundreds of thousands of tourists each year. Eisriesenwelt means ‘Ice caves’ or ‘World of the Ice Giants’ in German. These caves are situated in the Hochkogel mountains in Werfen, Austria. Despite being covered in beautiful formations of ice that stay frozen year round the caves remain open to tourists to study the magic of nature. The best time to explore these hidden jewels in the bosom of the Alps is the summer season. It wouldn’t have come as a surprise to people who have traveled to this 42 kilometers long ice caves if it were to become the eight wonder of the world.
PC: pasationtravellers.com
Waitomo Glowworms Cave, New Zealand
If you want to spend a night under a star-lit sky during the day, then you must visit the Waitomo Glowworms cave. This cave is one of a kind as it houses the arachna luminosa glowworms which are present on the ceiling of the cave. This cave in Newzealand is very closely monitored by the experts who maintain a certain temperature and atmosphere that is necessary for the sustenance of these breathtaking glowworms that make it so extraordinary. The mesmerizing beauty of this cave, comparable to a World Disney blockbuster, can be enjoyed through a guided tours on boats and is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
PC: travelonline.com
Fingal’s cave, Scotland
Situated in the Isle of Staffa in the picturesque country of Scotland is the geometrically magnificent Fingal’s cave. The sea cave is 69 meters long and 12 meters wide and the floor of the cave is filled with water. The blue-grey colonnades of the Fingal’s cave form a sight of pure marvel. The basalt columns of the cave form the shape of an hexagon often giving the impression of some mystic pattern that will rearrange and lead you to a hidden treasure when the right buttons are pressed. There is a rumor in the Irish legend that the Fingal’s cave and the Giant’s Causeway of the Northern Ireland were joined by a bridge.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, USA
If you want to go camping in one of the world renowned caves, then Carlsbad Caverns National Park of New Mexico state of United States would be the ideal pick. This cave sitting on a limestone rock is open for the visitors and is also a great place for hikers. However, if you have already crossed the prime of life and don’t fancy hiking, then you can reach the cavern on the elevator. This is one of the most frequented caverns of America and houses a spacious chamber room often referred to as the ‘Big Room’. The Big room is at the end of the hike and houses several exquisite formations of stalactites, stalagmites and columns.
PC: squarespace.com
Cave of Crystals, Mexico
If you want to lose yourself among some of the biggest crystals in the world, then the Cave of Crystals situated in Chihuahua , Mexico gives you the perfect opportunity to live your dream. This underground cave hidden from the rest of the world was discovered and gifted to us by the miners of Mexico. This massive cavern filled with enormous gypsum crystals of various shapes and sizes gives you the imagery of Kryptonite, the nemesis of the fiction character Superman. The only difference is that these crystals are white and not green in color. The cave is located just below the Niaca mine and will teleport you to a different planet covered with Selenite crystals.
PC: http://meditationtalks.com
Krubera Cave, Georgia
The Krubera cave , also known as the Voronya cave, lies in the Arabika Massif of Western Caucasus and is the deepest cave anywhere on planet earth which makes it an indispensable travel destination. The cave is over 16000 meters long and over 2000 meters deep. The name Krubera originated from the name of a famous Russian geographer Alexander Kruber. This cave was discovered through a hole in the mountains and is filled with water on it’s floor and flows to the Reproa Spring and the Kholodnaja Rechka spring.
PC: http://cbw.ge
So, which cave are you going to explore first?