What is the name of the largest cave in the world. The most amazing caves in the world. Unique world dungeons
The Cave of Crystals was discovered in 2000 by the Sanchez miner brothers, who were digging a new tunnel in the mine complex. It is located at a depth of 300 meters under the city of Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico. The cave is unique in having giant crystals selenite. The largest of the found crystals has a size of 11 m in length and 4 m in width, with a mass of 55 tons. This is one of the largest known crystals. It is very hot in the cave, temperatures reach 58 ° C with a humidity of 90-100%. These factors make it very difficult for people to explore the cave, making it necessary to use special equipment. Even with equipment, being in a cave usually does not exceed 20 minutes.
Waitomo Glowworm Cave, New Zealand:
The Waitomo Caves are truly a masterpiece of nature, over which she has worked for many millions of years. For many centuries, the ocean has ruled here, creating bizarre limestone outgrowths and mysterious intricacies of passages. And then the water receded, forming a system of about 150 caves. The most famous of them is Glowworm Cave. It is inhabited by amazing creatures - Arachnocampa Luminosa. These are fireflies that can only be found in New Zealand. Their green-blue glow makes the arch of the cave look like a starry sky on a frosty night.
Blue Grotto (Grotto Azzurra), Italy:
This beautiful cave, access to which is open only from the sea. The name "Blue Grotto" comes from the bright blue color of its waters. The entrance to the cave is very small and lets in a small amount of light, which gives the water its bright color.
Vatnajokull Glacier Cave, Iceland:
Sunlight, scattered over the surface of the Svínafellsjökull glacier, draws amazing pictures on the vaults of the ice cave, creating the illusion of being on sea depth. The depth of the underground passage does not exceed 50 meters, and the width of the cave is only 10 meters. During the winter months, a crackling sound is heard inside, caused by the movement of the glacier.
Such pure azure and blue hues are the result of the absence of air bubbles in the ice. You can see colored ice at certain weather conditions; one of them is the absence or minimum amount of snow on the surface. Intense sky blue ice is best seen in January and February; it is during this period that shades of azure, framed by snow cover, look fantastic.
You can get into the cave only in the winter months: narrow ice passages are accessible to tourists only with the onset of frost. At other times, being here can be dangerous; melting ice vaults often collapse under a mass of snow.
Phraya Nakhon, Thailand
It's not actually a cave, but a huge valley that is 65 meters deep and 50 meters wide, with overhanging walls covered in plants and stalactites. At certain hours of the day, light enters the interior, illuminating the small temple.
Marble Caves of Patagonia, Chile:
Despite their name, they are made of ordinary limestone, but there is an opinion that in the depths of the caves there are the purest deposits of marble. The walls of the Chilean landmark have a surprisingly beautiful bright blue color, and blue water lake doubles the impression of what he saw. It is also worth mentioning that the caves consist of many labyrinths and tunnels, over the creation of which the coastal waves worked hard.
Ice caves near Mutnovsky volcano, Russia:
A small and very beautiful snow cave on the slope of the Mutnovsky volcano.
Dongzhong Cave, China:
Dongzhong Cave (whose name is simply translated as "cave") is located in the village of Mao in the Chinese province of Guizhou. Since 1984, the cave has been equipped as an elementary school.
Fingal's Cave, Scotland
Famed sea cave washed into the rock sea water, on the island of Staffa, which is part of the Inland Hebrides. The walls are made up of vertical hexagonal basalt columns 69 meters deep and 20 meters high. For three centuries it was a place of artistic pilgrimage and inspired the work of many famous artists, musicians and writers.
Reed Flute Cave, China:
Reed Flute Cave (Ludi Yan) - amazing creation nature, located in the city of Guilin (China). A special type of reed grows around the cave, from which the best flutes in all of China were made in the old days, this fact served as the basis for such beautiful name. Ludi Yan Cave, like Waitomo Cave, has illumination, but not natural, but "artificial" - artificial. With its help, the Chinese successfully emphasize the beauty of the flawless creation of nature. Multi-colored lights playfully paint stalactites, stalactites and other bizarre rock formations, making the cave even brighter and more fabulous.
Fantastic Pit at Ellison's Cave, Georgia, USA:
If you are an extreme, and besides, an amateur speleologist, then Allison Cave is ideal for you, namely its Fancy Mine, 179 meters deep.
Kyaut Sae cave in Myanmar:
Few people know about this cave, but nevertheless it is amazing both in its size and in what is located in it. Buddhist temple.
Son Doong Cave, Vietnam:
The largest cave in the world. She is in Central Vietnam, in the province of Quang Binh, in the Phong Nha Kebang National Park, 500 kilometers south of Hanoi and 40 km from the center of the province - Dong Hoi. This cave has been known to locals since 1991, in April 2009 it was discovered by a group of British speleologists. The cave has an underground river that floods some parts of the cave during the rainy season.
Eisriesenwelt Ice Cave, Austria:
The Eisriesenwelt caves are the largest system of ice caves on our planet available for viewing. Eisriesenwelt means "giant ice world". The caves are located in the Alps in Austria at an altitude of 1641 meters and consist of 30 thousand cubic meters. meters of ice. These caves were formed by the waters of the Salzach River, which eroded limestone deposits over thousands of years. rocks. Currently, the riverbed is below the entrance to the caves.
The Eisriesenwelt caves were discovered by accident as early as 1849. For a long time only hunters and poachers knew about them. The date of the official discovery of the Eisriesenwelt caves is considered to be 1879, when the Austrian naturalist from Salzburg, Anton von Posselt-Czorich, first penetrated 200 meters deep into the caves. A year later, he published a detailed account of his discovery in a mountaineering magazine, but this information did not arouse due interest.
Orda Cave, Russia:
Orda Cave is the longest underwater gypsum cave in Russia and one of the longest in the world. This place - real paradise for divers. The cave begins with the Crystal Grotto. In the northwestern corner of this grotto is Lake Ledyanoe. The move on the left will lead to the next grotto - the Ice Palace. Lake Main is located here, and a little further - Lake Teploe. Through these lakes, divers enter the mysterious underwater part of the cave. The water here is extremely clean, transparent, bluish in color and very cold (+ 4 degrees).
Carlsbad Caverns, USA
Under the arches of the mountains of Guadalupe in the state of New Mexico, endless labyrinths of halls, tunnels and corridors are hidden, the main inhabitants of which are bats. Charm carlsbad caves becomes more charming and mysterious with the advent of twilight. The park and the caves got their name in honor of the nearby city of Carlsbad.
Barton Creek Cave, Belize:
This cave has not only extraordinary natural beauty, but is also a living witness to the household items of the ancient Mayans who inhabited this area more than 2000 years ago. In it you can see many grandiose stalactites and stalagmites, ancient jugs and religious bowls of the May Indians, traces of religious human sacrifices.
Jeita Grotto Caves, Lebanon:
a complex of two caves in Lebanon, 20 kilometers north of Beirut. In 1836, the upper cave was discovered by William Thomson, and the lower cave was discovered by Lebanese speleologists in 1958. The length of the Upper Cave is 2200 meters, but only part of it, which is 750 meters long, is open to tourists. There are three halls in the Upper Cave, each of which is 100 meters or more in height. There are unique underground reservoirs, very beautiful crevices, various stalagmites and stalactites. The length of the Lower Cave is much larger than the Upper Cave and is equal to 6900 meters.
Kango Caves, South Africa:
Caves Cango (Cango Caves), tacitly called the wonder of the world. The caves are famous for their "Organ Hall" - stalactites descending along the walls form something reminiscent of big organ, which, combined with music and lighting effects, makes an indelible impression on visitors.
Aven Armand Cave, France:
A special funicular lowers visitors 50 meters deep into the tunnel, which is 200 meters long. There suddenly turns out to be a huge hall in which Notre Dame Cathedral could easily fit.
What could be better than mountains? Only mountains, you say. And you will 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. explore the depths underground resources- always interesting, unusual, albeit risky. Descending deep into the cave around various stalactites and other rocks in the midst of darkness is an indescribable feeling.
To inspire you to commune with nature, life guide 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 known for 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 brother miners Sanchez only in 2000, despite the fact that it had existed, presumably, for a couple of million years.
Glowworm Waitomo Cave (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 glowing effect.
Blue Grotto (Italy)
This grotto is located on the coast of the island of Capri, Italy. Known for its blue water, the grotto is very popular place among tourists. However, the only way to get there is by boat, and only when the weather is good.
Vatnajökull Ice Cave (Iceland)
Glaciers have been formed over the centuries due to the combination low temperatures air with big amount solid atmospheric 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 the “effect of shining gems”. It is recommended to visit the cave in winter due to the risk of melting water.
Cave Phraya Nakhon (Thailand)
One of the most beautiful caves in Thailand. It is located in the national Khao Park Roi Yot itself is 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 the province of Nakhon Si Thammarat Phray Nakhon, who accidentally discovered it during a storm.
Marble Caves (Chile)
One of the most deep lakes on the planet - Lake General Carrera (from Chile), thanks to its clear blue water, adds beauty to these caves. 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 well seem strange. However, this is actually the case. While exploring the area around the Mutnovsky volcano, the cave was discovered by accident, which was an absolutely incredible find. The light passing through the ceiling of the caves creates an amazing variety of colors in them.
Dongzhong Cave (China)
Dongzhong Chinese cave is located in Guizhou province. It was formed several thousand years ago, but since 1984 it has been used as ... an educational institution.
Fingal's Cave (Scotland)
Washed into the rock by sea water, Fingal's Cave is located on the island of Staffa and is part of the Inner Hebrides group. On its walls there are vertical basalt columns 69 m deep and 20 m high. Due to the curved vault, the cave has a unique acoustics.
Reed Flute Cave (China)
Located in the city of Guilin, this cave was named after the reeds growing around it. Modern lighting further emphasizes the beauty of the rocks formed inside.
Allison Cave (USA)
The cave is located in northeast Georgia. This perfect place for lovers of extreme sports and speleologists. Its depth reaches 179 m.
SAE Kyaut Cave (Myanmar)
There is a Buddhist temple at the entrance to this cave, and it 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. She became 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 at the end of the 19th century. The structure of the caves is constantly changing due to the ice that melts and then freezes again.
Cave Ordinskaya (Russia)
Ordinskaya Cave is the longest flooded cave in Russia and is ranked 25th 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 as a result of the dissolution of limestone with sulfuric acid. They are remarkable for 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 stumble upon some kind of skull. At one time, the Maya Indians performed their rituals and sacrifices there. Many artifacts that have survived 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 as "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 a profound silence that 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 biggest wonders of the African continent.
Aven Armand (France)
If you want to go underground to a depth of 100 m, then you are here. The cave is unique for its stalagmites (more than 400 types), including the largest known in the world, almost 30 m high. Of course, the symbol of France, no doubt, is the Eiffel Tower, but it’s still worth seeing the natural sculptures that are underground.
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A cave is a naturally formed natural cavity in a mountain, large enough for a person to enter. They are studied by such a science as speleology. Thanks to speleologists, we know a lot about caves, because they are very different: deep, beautiful, bizarre or just huge. What is the deepest cave in the world and what other outstanding caves exist on Earth?
This Vietnamese cave was discovered relatively recently - in 1991 - by a local resident who was afraid to enter it because of the terrible rumble of water inside and called his friends for help. Eighteen years later, speleologists from Britain came to grips with the study. After covering a distance of four kilometers, they stumbled upon an obstacle in the form of an impressive wall, entirely formed from solid calcite (rock-forming material). In 2010, the study resumed again, the expedition stayed in the depths of the cave for two weeks.
Unusual columns made of stone and deep gorges. The wonders of Shondong amazed the entire speleological world. The dimensions of the cave are truly gigantic, in some places a skyscraper could fit there. It reminds lost city underground. It is even surprising that for so many years no one suspected its existence.
When floods occur, it is not possible to enter the cave
The cavity is 150 m high and about 9 km long. After the discovery of the cave, extreme sports enthusiasts rushed there. To get underground, you need a rope and stuff climbing equipment. On the way, you will have a chance to see the dark labyrinths, decorated with real rock patterns created by water flows. Indeed, inside this outlandish cave, a stormy underground river roars, creating a variety of tunnels. In some places, she managed to break through to the surface.
Shondong - extremely unusual place. 70-meter stalagmites grow here, attracting the attention of tourists, and real clouds form due to the mixing of warm and cold air. No matter how difficult and tiring the path to the cave was, all those who have been there unanimously assure that it is worth it.
Lubang Nasib Bagus
This largest cave in the world is located in Malaysia. It has a famous grotto called Sarawak. This grotto has very impressive dimensions - 600 by 415 m, and a height of about a hundred meters. The total volume of the grotto reaches a fantastic figure of 25 million cubic meters. It was discovered by three cavers from England in 1981.
At that time, they examined the karst massif, which is located in the Gunung Mulu reserve. Scientists climbed up the river and found themselves in a cave from which it flows. The speleologists did not even have enough lanterns to fully illuminate it.
On the area occupied by the grotto of Sarawak, several dozen aircraft can easily fit
Miao (Miao)
China also has one of the largest caves on the planet. It is hidden under the hills, and you can get there only by moving along the underground river. The cavity is a huge cave chamber. A few years ago, an expedition took place that studied this chamber in detail using a laser method.
This expedition was organized by the British, including specialists from the Chinese Institute of Karst Geology. Funding generated by the US National geographical society. Later, all the information was announced at a conference on the issue of caves, held in England. After extensive laser scans were carried out in 2013, the cave was officially mapped.
Miao's volume is approximately 11 million cubic meters
Eisreisenwelt
Is on the planet amazing place surrounded on all sides by ice. It is located in Austria near the city of Salzburg. It is the longest cave in the world that is partly made of ice.
The cave goes deep Alpine mountains for as much as 40 kilometers, but ice occupies only a small part of it, followed by limestone. The cave was formed by the efforts of the Salzak River, which made a hole in the mountain, and the ice appeared due to snow that fell into the cave and froze in winter.
The entrance to the ice part of the cave is always open for tourists, and cold winds constantly walk through the tunnels, which prevents snow and ice from melting, and in the warm season cold air rushes outward, forming a kind of air plug.
According to official data, A. Posselt was the discoverer of the cave in 1879. This naturalist, however, managed to explore only the initial 200 m. Before the discovery, the cave was known only locals. They were afraid of her, calling the devil's abode. In the middle of the 20th century, it was decided to build a special cable car, which reduced travel time from 1.5 hours to just 3 minutes. The open season runs from the beginning of May to the end of October. A full tour of this impressive site will take approximately 1.5 hours.
It is difficult to find a photo of the interior of the cave, because it is forbidden to take pictures there
red cave
On the Crimean Peninsula, which is part of Russia, there is also an outstanding cave, or rather - cave system stretching for more than 25 kilometers. Underground there are many halls of different sizes and appearance, between them, an impenetrable labyrinth wanders. True, only 500 m are available for tourists, and then under the control of an experienced guide.
The interior view of the cavity is striking in the first place due to the lighting skillfully distributed along the entire route. Its intensity is adjusted in such a way that it favorably emphasizes the relief and creates beautiful shadows. Walking through the cave is convenient and safe: it is equipped with special paths with railings. The place is very interesting from the point of view of speleology, especially with its large stalagmites and bizarre streaks on the walls. Also, an amazingly clean river flows inside. It is so transparent that sometimes it can be seen only by reflections of light.
Hearing this name, anyone will imagine the remains of the greatest prehistoric giants discovered by scientists underground. But this is just a play on words, in the English dialect "mammoth" is huge. However, despite the fact that it has nothing to do with mammoths, traveling in it is extremely exciting. This is a whole underground kingdom, full of halls, galleries and passages. The cave seems to live its own, independent life: rivers roar here and waterfalls seethe. The reservoirs even have their own unique fauna: blind fish, shrimp without eyes...
The main entrance is located in the US, Kentucky. Nearby, in the western part of the Appalachians, there are several more smaller underground systems that were previously considered independent, but now it turned out that they are all connected in one way or another with Mamontova. An important national park, where a colony of rare bats lives and you can enjoy untouched nature. IN mammoth cave scientists have come across unusual finds more than once, for example, the mummified corpse of an Indian, perfectly preserved along with clothes thanks to special climatic conditions.
The cave has not yet been fully explored, the estimated length is 587 km.
Sak-Aktun
This unique cave is one of the main attractions not only in Mexico, but also in the world. flowing in it major river bears the same name, which means "white cave" in translation. The cave system has a length of more than 300 km and is a suite, interconnected by passages of "rooms". The study of Sak-Aktun, located on the Yucatan Peninsula, began only in 1987, but over the years that have passed since that time, only one percent of the territory has been explored. It is hard to imagine how many more amazing things are hidden in it, because the cavity was formed 65 million years ago.
According to one version, its occurrence is the result of a collision of the Earth with a huge meteor. At the place where he fell, a crater turned out, from which, in turn, many cracks spread underground. Time passed, and the crater, along with the cracks, filled with rainwater. And so it turned out a long full-flowing underground channel. This river has always been treated with respect by local tribes, for example, the Maya.
The river occupies almost the entire cave, and the spectacle is unusually beautiful.
Krubera-Crow
This cave is located in Abkhazia. Its length is just over two kilometers, and Georgian scientists began to study it since 1960. Krubera-Voronya is of interest not only for speleologists, but also for biologists. Here they discovered a previously unknown species of beetles, which were recognized as champions among insects in terms of the depth of their habitat. Biologists also claim that many other new species can be found in this place.
The well-known speleological group Cavex is mainly engaged in the study of the cave. It was this team that was the first to reach the maximum depth - 1.7 km. Research can not be called easy: the expedition now and then ran into dead ends, had to go back. It also happened vice versa, windows leading to the discovery of new paths were found in the cave wall.
The shortest river on the planet flows from Krubera-Voronya - Reprua, which is only 18 meters long
Sarma
Sarma is located in Arabica mountain in Georgia. It is a series of wells and halls, between which many tunnels and small climbs meander. Sarma is unanimously recognized by scientists as one of the most beautiful and scientifically interesting caves, extremely valuable for the world speleological community.
Sarma is conditionally divided into three levels - the first goes to a depth of 420 m, the second - to 900 m, the third - to 1830 m, then the territory has not yet been explored. Sarma got its name in accordance with the name of the wind: due to the peculiarities of aerodynamics, strong winds always blow here. hurricane wind, reaching a speed of 50 km / h, which the locals are afraid of.
The cave is closed to tourists, so you can get into it only as part of an expedition, having the appropriate skills and equipment.
Our Earth is a place filled with amazing wonders and mysteries of nature, only a small part of which has been explored by mankind. Huge and majestic caves invariably delight travelers.
Caves are underground cavities that communicate with the surface by one or more
inlet holes. Most large caves have complex systems of passages and halls, often with a total length of up to several tens of kilometers.
Today we will visit some mysterious caves.
Tham Lod limestone cave. This is one of the oldest caves in Thailand. It is very popular with archaeologists. A human skeleton was found here, which is more than twenty thousand years old. Visitors to the cave will be able to see the dwelling of primitive people. Caves were generally used by ancient people as comfortable dwellings.
Inside this cave, the walls are covered with massive formations over 20 meters high that make you feel very insignificant in this world. There is no artificial lighting in the cave, so you need to move around with a lantern inside. The very name of the cave - Nam Lod, which in Thai means "water passing through" - speaks of its essence.
Cave on the beach in New Zealand.
In most caves, the air is breathable 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.
Cave under Uluwatu Temple, Bali.
View of the Northern Lights from a cave in Northern Norway.
In addition to caves that have access to the surface and are accessible for direct study by humans, there are closed underground cavities in the earth's crust. The deepest underground cavity (2952 meters) was discovered by drilling on the coast of Cuba
And it's just a cave beautiful lake. Unfortunately, the photographer forgot to leave the name of the area.
This is rather not a cave, but an artificial bridge in Morocco.
Castor cave Olsztyn in Poland. Caves according to their origin can be divided into five groups: tectonic, erosional, ice, volcanic and, finally, the most large group- karst. Most of these caves. It is karst caves that have the greatest length and depth. Karst caves are formed as a result of 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.
Cave Reed Flute in China. This iconic place in the urban area of Guilin, China, located in the most picturesque area with karst formations. This natural limestone cave got its name from the reeds growing around it, from which the locals used to make their own ancient wind instruments.
Read more in the article "Reed Flute Cave in China".
Caves appear in many fantastic works (both in fantasy and science fiction). Caves (more precisely, bunkers) in science fiction mainly serve as shelters after a global catastrophe that made life on the surface impossible. In fantasy, caves are inhabited by gnomes, kobolds, goblins, dragons; V role playing they often play the role of dungeons. In Russian folk tales among the inhabitants of the caves - Mistress copper mountain and Serpent Gorynych.
ice cave in state park Matthiessen, Illinois.
Krubera-Voronya is the deepest (at the beginning of 2014) cave in the world (depth 2196 meters), located in the Arabica mountain range in Abkhazia. The entrance to the cave is located at an altitude of about 2250 m above sea level in the Orto-Balagan tract. A subvertical karst cave is a series of wells connected by stiles and galleries. The deepest plumb lines: 115, 110, 152 m:
Among the most famous literary characters who ended up in the caves are Tom Sawyer along with Becky Thatcher, as well as Bilbo Baggins.
Crystal Cave, Iceland. The cave can be entered from the shore, through a 7 meter hole. The tunnel gradually narrows, and at the end its height is no more than 1.2 meters. Ice caves are generally unstable and can collapse at any moment. They are only safe to visit in winter when the cold temperatures harden the ice. Crackling sounds are constantly heard in the cave. They are heard not because the cave is about to collapse, but because the cave is moving along with the glacier itself. Every time the glacier moves a millimeter, loud noises are heard.
Primitive people used caves all over the world as a dwelling. Even more often, animals settled in the caves. Many animals died in the cave-traps, starting from steep wells.
Cave and view of Gibraltar.
Marble Mountains - beautiful and mysterious place near Da Nang city, Vietnam. Huyen Khong cave with statues and altars inside.
The longest Mammoth Cave in the world (USA) is karst, laid in limestone. It has a total length of passages of more than 600 km. The length of the investigated part of the cave system is more than 587 km. In the surveyed part, there are 225 underground passages, about 20 large halls and more than 20 deep mines:
The extremely slow evolution of caves, their constant climate, and protection from the outside world have preserved a huge number of archaeological finds to us. These are pollen of fossil plants, bones of long-extinct animals (cave bear, cave hyena, mammoth, woolly rhinoceros), cave drawings ancient people.
Luray Caverns in Virginia. There is even an underground organ.
The cave monastery is located in Moldova. The archaeological complex "Old Orhei" is located 60 km northeast of Chisinau.
Rainbow and frozen waterfall in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Although the living world of caves, as a rule, is not very rich (excluding the entrance part, where sunlight), however, some animals live in caves or even only in caves. First of all, these are bats, many of their species use caves as a daily shelter or for wintering. Moreover, bats sometimes fly into very remote and hard-to-reach corners, perfectly orienting themselves in narrow labyrinth passages.
Cave system in Halong Bay, Vietnam.
Cave off the coast of San Francisco, California.
Birds, sunlight and temple. Batu Caves is a complex of cave hills and Hindu shrines in the Gombak region, at a distance of 13 km from the center of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. (Photo by Danny Xeero). The Batu Caves were created by nature over 400 million years ago. In the 19th century, a merchant from India built a temple to the god Muruga in this secluded place.
Caves served as a refuge for man at the dawn of civilization. And today these underground voids attract brave speleologists who seek to penetrate as deep as possible to the heart of the Earth.
Today's top ten contains largest caves in the world. Two of them are located on the territory of Abkhazia, which allows you to visit these natural monuments hundreds of Russian tourists.
Optimisticheskaya is the largest gypsum cave in the world. It is located on the territory of Ukraine in the Ternopil region. The cave has not been explored to the end, but the length of the corridors known to speleologists is 230 km.
9. Ox Bel Ha
The name of this system of underwater caves, translated from one of the Indian dialects, means "three ways of water." The system is located in Mexico on the Yucatan Peninsula, the total length of the corridors is 256 km.
8 Jewel Cave System
located in South Dakota the cave system has a total length of more than 257 km. In the galleries of the cave there are strong drafts, the gusts of which reach 15 m/s. The maximum depth of the cave is 192 meters.
7. Lamprechtsofen
This cave system is located in the Austrian state of Salzburg. Its length is 38 km, and maximum depth- 1,632 meters. It is noteworthy that the practical Austrians built a mini-power plant in the cave, which produces energy from the flow of an underground river.
6. Mammoth Cave
Located in the state of Kentucky (USA), the karst cave is considered the longest in the world. The length of the studied part of the crossings exceeds 587 km. The cave was discovered in 1797. Its maximum depth is 115 meters.
5. Snowy
One of the deepest caves in the world is located in Abkhazia. Its depth is 1,753 meters, and the length of all corridors, sometimes quite low, is more than 24 km. "Snezhnaya" is a system of three caves, which are interconnected without siphons - underwater tunnels filled with water.
4. Skocjan Caves
The cave system, located in the mountains of Slovenia, has a length of 6 km. The height of the arches reaches 50 meters. There are more than 30 underground waterfalls in the cave system, there is also a 15-meter stalagmite, nicknamed the Giant.
3. Sarawak Grotto
located on Borneo island the grotto is 400 meters wide, 700 meters long and up to 70 meters high. The grotto is part of the huge Gua-Nasib-Bagus cave. Only trained tourists are allowed on an excursion to Sarawak; a visit to the grotto lasts all day.
2. Krubera Cave
It is also called the Crow Cave, and it is located in the Gagra Range in the territory of Abkhazia. The cave has two branches and is the deepest in the world. The depth of the first branch is 2,196 meters, the second - 1,300 meters.
1. Son Doong Cave
The world's largest cave located in Vietnam, 500 km from Hanoi. The height of the arches of the cave is up to 240 meters, the width is 100 meters, and the length of passages and corridors has been studied so far for only 6.5 km. Speleologists discovered the grotto in 2005, although locals have known about Son Doong since 1991.
