17 Amazing Caves that lurk below
#17 Kartchner Caverns. This Southwest American cave system/ has got
it all: oodles of intriguing passages and soda straw stalactites, as well as a healthy
population of bats/ and other cave-dwellers. Don t worry! The bats stay up high where they
belong, but you can still see them swooping around in some of the rooms. Kartchner Caverns
was discovered in 1974, and since then/ has been a must-see destination in Arizona State
Park. See the sprawling complex for yourself, and marvel at what s just below the surface.
For our next pick, you will have to travel across the ocean to the other side of the
world...
#16 Surprise Cave. Surprise! Vietnam has one of the coolest caves
on the planet. Located on Bo H n Island, Surprise Cave is part of the stunning Halong Bay complex,
and a bonafide UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cave has a checkered past/ and was once
used as a hiding place/ for Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. The view of Halong Bay/ from
the mouth of the cave, or grotto, is nothing short of jaw-dropping, and the interior of
Surprise Cave/ is full of stunning stalagmites and stalactites. It s northern Vietnam s most
cherished natural treasure.
#15 Mammoth Cave. Kentucky might be best known for its bluegrass
music and southern charm, but this bourbon-soaked state/ has something else up its sleeve- or
rather under its terrain- a system of enormous caves that draw visitors from all over the
world. Mammoth Cave National Park is the largest cave system/ on the planet, sprawling out
over a whopping five hundred twenty-eight square kilometers. Anyone can take on this
monster, but be warned/ that some of the passages aren t for the faint of heart. The infamous
Fat Man s Misery/ is a tight squeeze into uncertainty/ that s sure to take your breath
away, and plenty of the lesser caverns are treacherous, to say the least. Still, if you
have the guts and athletic ability, Mammoth Cave is worth seeing!
# 14 Catedral de Sal Unlike many of the others on this list, the
Catedral de Sal is a human-made wonder set in a system of caves in Zipaquira, Colombia.
Just north of Bogota, this mining town is home to an astonishing wonder of modern architecture,
nestled deep inside of an old salt cave. The Catedral de Sal translates literally to Salt
Cathedral/ and is a labor of love/ chiseled into the sides of the cave. With Stations
of the Cross, epic depictions of angels, and even enormous rooms for worship, the Catedral
de Sal is a destination for the religious/ and non-religious alike. While this saline
masterpiece takes your breath away with its sheer beauty, our next pick/ will take your
breath away with terror...
#13 Stephen s Gap. The southern United States certainly has its
fair share of jaw-dropping caves and caverns, but Stephen s Gap is in a bone-chilling league
all of its own. Why? You drop down into the gaping maw of Stephen s Gap through a small
hole at the top, repelling one hundred and forty-three feet down slippery rocks/ to the
base of the cave. Less adventurous folks/ can enter the cave at a second entrance/ near
the base. With plenty of natural beauty/ and an impressive waterfall flowing through the
cave, Stephen s Gap is one of the more majestic caves/ on our list with a helping of heart-stopping
adrenaline, that s the price of admission/ for seeing its wonders.
#12 Tadrart Acacus Desert Cave. There s more to Algeria s Tadrart Acacus Desert
Cave than meets the eye. This system was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site/ because of its
phenomenal ancient rock art. Artifacts from 12,000 B.C.E. have been unearthed in the system,
making it a site of great historical importance/ as well as a gorgeous natural wonder. Visit
the caves and see the dazzling prehistoric paintings/ for yourself. The Tadrart Acacus
Desert Cave complex is part cave/ and part real-life art museum.
#11 Carlsbad Caverns. These limestone caves/ are etched deep in
the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico/ and are one of the most popular tourist attractions/
in the United States. The limestone/ is what makes it special, and gives Carlsbad its otherworldly
glow. These caves are home to several species of bats, and colossal rooms/ that seem to
go on forever. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Carlsbad Caverns/ is the bottomless
pit, an inky blot in the earth/ that doesn t seem to have an end. Watch your footing!
#10 Cenote Ik Kil. Mexico is famous for its cenotes: brilliant
roofless caves/ full of sparkling, clear water. They re a godsend for divers and daredevils/
who love to explore the watery reaches of the cave system/ through warm azure waters.
Cenote Ik Kil is one of the most fabulous cenotes in the world, but it has a dark side.
Sacrificial bones have been unearthed from the soggy depths of the cave s bottom, leading
archeologists to suspect/ that there s more to Cenote Ik Kil than meets the eye. Still,
if you don t mind taking a dip in a/ human sacrificial site turned swimmin hole, Cenote
Ik Kil is for you. Just watch out for ghosts and ghouls when you re poking around down
there.
#9 Puerto Princesa Subterranean River. The Philippines is home/ to a phenomenal underground
river/ that was recently designated as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. The Puerto
Princesa Subterranean River/ is a geological marvel/ and a bio-diverse haven for all sorts
of marine creatures/ who ve found solace in the river/ and the cave systems around it.
Amazingly, this river is two-tiered, and the second floor is full of: gushing rapids, waterfalls,
rock formations, and giant anterooms eaten away by the currents. Incredibly/ there is
much that we don t know about this mysterious underground river/ because there s no oxygen/
in the more far-flung areas. Perhaps one day, we will unlock all of the secrets but/ don
t hold your breath.
#8 Fingal s Cave. Scotland s enigmatic island of Staffa is home
to one of the most spectacular sea caves in the world: Fingal s Cave. Forged of volcanic
rock, and polished into a natural wonder by the mighty Atlantic, Fingal s Cave is an explorer
s dream. What makes this cave so special/ is the sheer remoteness of its location, coupled
with the extravagant basalt columns/ etched with hexagonal designs. Visit this cave, and
you ll be blown away by its lonely beauty.
#7 Batu Caves. Half temple, half cave system, all fantastic:
the Batu Caves in Malaysia/ are a colorful tribute to the Hindu pantheon/ set deep in
a limestone cave system. Even if you re not devout, you ll be blown away by the sheer
grandeur of these caves. To get to the main cave, you ll have to pass an enormous statue
of Lord Murugan/ and climb a grueling two hundred and seventy-two steps to the entrance.
If you can do this without losing your footing/ or your wallet to the resident monkeys, you
ll be rewarded with a peek/ into one of the most astonishing limestone cave systems/ you
ve ever seen. If you prefer your nature without religious significance, our number six pick
is for you.
#6: Waitomo Glowworm Caves. New Zealand s most eccentric and luminous
cave has got to be Waitomo. This cavern system/ is jam packed with millions of glow worms/
that light up the rooms with an ethereal and/ strangely alluring light. These miniature
moonbeams/ have been enticing visitors since the caves opened in 1889, and they show no
signs of packing up and leaving anytime soon. The glow worms are monitored by a team of
scientists/ who make sure that the cave stays to their liking, and since they re the primary
draw, it s essential to keep the radiant little critters happy.
#5 The Blue Grotto. Capri s Blue Grotto/ is one of the prettiest
lil sea caves/ that you are likely to see, and it's deep, clear blue hue/ draws tourists
from all over the planet. Inside, radiant blue/ lights up the whole cavern, and only
a tiny slice of light is visible from the outside. You re not supposed to swim in The
Grotto technically If you decide to flout the rules, do so at your own risk. Night swimming
is dangerous, and according to legend, this gem of a sea cave/ is the haunt of witches
and monsters/ after the sun goes down.
#4 Reed Flute Cave. This ancient cave/ is one hundred and eighty
million years old/ and is home to some incredible prehistoric cave art. Located in Guilin, China,
Reed Flute Cave/ got its nickname The Palace of Natural Arts from its crazy artistic rock
formations/ and galaxy of different colors. Stuffed with stalagmites and stalactites,
Reed Flute Cave is a cornucopia of: ancient artifacts, astounding natural splendor, and
colors/ that are out of this world.
#3 Badami Caves. These caves are a masterpiece of Indian Badami
Chalukya architecture: Hindu and Jain temples/ etched deep into the rock itself. These ancient
wonders date back to the sixth century/ and are split up into several parts. Explore the
massive complex at your own risk: there are thousands of stairs to climb, and some of
the caverns/ haven t been well-maintained. Do you have the guts and the athletic prowess/
to take on these immense Indian monuments?
#2 Qumran Cave. This cave/ is the most historically significant
on our list, and a geological masterpiece in its own right. Qumran Cave/ is located
smack dab in the West Bank/ and was the home of the famous Dead Sea Scrolls: ancient Jewish
texts of incredible historical importance. Tourists can visit the exact spot where the
scrolls were discovered in 1947, and get an epic view of the Dead Sea/ while they re at
it. The caves themselves/ are full of limestone formations/ and plenty of nooks and crannies
to explore, as well as plenty of heart-stopping rappelling/ and adventure sports. Qumran Cave
is history, culture, and adrenaline/ rolled up in one amazing package.
# 1: The Cave of the Crystals. This Mexican cave/ would make Superman jealous/
with its massive outgrowths of crystal formations. It s a super-subterranean cave, located underneath
the similarly named/ Cave of Swords, where the crystals were only a mere seven feet long.
In the bigger, more impressive Cave of the Crystals, these geological marvels/ top forty
feet- and many of them are still growing strong. The cave s accelerated growth/ might have
something to do with its temperature, which hovers between 120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Needless to say, what is a hospitable environment to giant crystals/ is not so kind to humans.
To venture down into this otherworldly cave, you need plenty of protective equipment, as
well as a special permit. Still, it s worth it/ to see the most unique cave on the planet.
Thanks for watching. Have you been to any of the caves listed here? If so, let us know
your experience in the comments below.