10 Most Spectacular Caves In The World
Caves can be found all over the world in forms ranging from stone caves to ice caves to sea caves, each with unique characteristics, leaving no two caves with the same surprises. As well as their stunning beauty, caves are rich in history and cultural importance. Early humans and animals utilized caves as shelter, for which untouched remains tell modern historians and archaeologists a detailed story. Prehistoric cave art gives us a minor glimpse into human life multitudes of centuries earlier. Other uses of caves have included refuge, storage, extraction of resources, and religious observation.
1. Ice Cave, Mutnovsky Volcano, Russia
This amazing ice cave located near Mutnovsky volcano in Northern Russia. This kind of ice caves formed by streams flow through glacier fields at bottom level of Mutnovsky volcano. This ice cave is 300 meters in length, can see different coloring inside the cave. During summer season the roof of this cave becomes transparent and makes many attractive visuals.
2. Cave In Algarve, Portugal
This cave system primarily formed through continuous action of sea waves over larger rocks. Visitors can reach this cave only by water. It offers three major openings, most attractive site within coastline of Algarve. This site also contain clear blue water, attracts many visitors every year.
3. Antelope Canyon, Arizona, USA
Antelope Canyon, formed out of the erosion of sandstone from flash flooding and rain water, is truly awe inspiring. The rich color of the Navajo sandstone and the flowing feeling of the cave walls attract visitors and photographers from all over the world to escape into this natural wonder.
4. Batu Cave, Malaysia
The limestone forming the Batu Cave is dated back 400 million years, and evidence of human use of the cave can be dated to indigenous tribes. Batu Cave has since been dedicated as a Hindu religious site, attracting worshippers and tourists from all over the world to observe the peaceful and ornate temples, shrines, and statues that have been erected inside the cave and in surrounding areas.
5. Fingal’s Cave, Scotland
This isolated sea cave, named after Irish folklore, is nothing short of magical and whimsical. With the whimsical rock formations and fog that rolls off the sea, visitors can feel like they’ve stepped into a sacred place.
6. Reed Flute Cave, China
This limestone cave has attracted attention for more than 1200 years, with ink inscriptions dating back to the 8th century BCE during the Tang Dynasty. Reed Flute Cave gets its name from a particular reed that grows around the cave, which are used to make flutes. Today, colorful lights are used to illuminate the beautifully formed stalagmites and stalactites.
7. Ellora Caves, Maharashtra
Ellora is an archaeological site, 29km from Aurangabad in Maharashtra. Well-known for its monumental caves, Ellora is a World Heritage Site and the 34 caves are actually structures excavated out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills. Buddhist, Hindu and Jain rock-cut temples and viharas and mathas were built between the 5th century and 10th century.
8. Son Doong Cave, Vietnam
The Son Doong cave in Vietnam is the largest currently known cave in the world. It is filled with countless wonders including isolated ecosystems, weather systems and geological formations. With stalactites measuring up to 70 meters in height and cave pearls the size of basketballs, the size and beauty of this cave strikes wonder in everyone who comes to explore this underground gem.
9. Eiriesenwelt Cave, Austria
This is the largest known ice cave, offering visitors spectacular colors and formations, including frozen waterfalls. The ice walls are up to 20 meters thick, and the maximum temperature the cave reaches is 0 degrees Celsius.
10. Vatnajokull Glacier Cave, Iceland
It is located in vatnajokull glacier in Iceland, largest glacier in Europe. It was formed by melting and compression of glacial ice water, took millions of years. The air bubbles and ice crystal gave transparency and attractive blue color for the cave. Visiting this crystal cave in summer season is not at all safe, as melting and movement of glaciers take place at that time.