The formation of caves takes place over millions of years. They are formed through natural processes such as lava flowing and cooling, earthquakes, glacier formations, and through the flow of water.
Cave systems have been discovered all over the world. Some are deep underground with entrances that are barely visible from the outside. Some sea caves are accessible only by boat.
Caves draw in a lot of interest from the public. They are intriguing for many reasons. It might be the fear of the unknown or the dark, the thrill of exploring territory that is rarely occupied by other humans, or the beauty of otherworldly rock formations.
They have becomes popular destinations for tourists, spelunkers, and casual hikers. Let’s take a look at some of the most beautiful and intriguing cave systems in the world.
Son Doong Cave, VietnamThis cave is the largest single cave in the world.It has beautiful natural formations, including some of the largest stalagmites and stalactites in the world It was created 2-5 million years ago by river water eroding away the limestone underneath the mountainIt is over 9 kilometers longMammoth Cave, KentuckyThe interconnected caverns make up the longest cave system in the worldThe historic entrance to the Mammoth CavesIt is home to gorgeous formations of stalagmites and stalactites. The entrance to the Mendenhall Ice Caves just outside of Juneau, AlaskaThese caves are inside the ancient ice of the Mendenhall glacierThese are difficult to access and are not fit for the average hiker. The ice can also make them very dangerous Waitomo Glowworm Caves in New ZealandThe glow worms light up the cavern in a bright blue designTourists can take guided tours through the limestone caves to see the glow wormsThe glow worms light up the roof of the cavern like constellationsFingal’s Cave in ScotlandThese hexagonal columns were created by lava that contracted and fracturedThe caves can only be reached by boat through the entrance pictured here.The caves are also known for their acousticsBlue Grotto Cave. Capri ItalyThe entrance to the sea caveIt was one of the most popular tourist destinations in the cityThese caves are known for the bright blue water that is the result of sunlight passing through an underwater cavity and shining through the seawaterEisriesenwelt Cave in AustriaIt is the largest ice cave in the worldThis cave can be found in the AlpsIt is a popular tourist attraction but can only be accessed a few months of the yearVeryovkina Cave in GeorgiaIt is the deepest cave in the worldIt is 2,223 meters (7,257 ft) deepŠkocjan Caves, SloveniaThe explored length of the caves is 6,200 meters (20,300 feet)Martel’s Chamber. With a volume of 2.2 million cubic meters (78 million cubic feet), it is considered the largest discovered underground chamber in Europe and one of the largest in the world.Cave of the Crystals in MexicoThe chamber contains giant selenite crystals These rock formations began millions of years ago
