5 most popular caves in the world
Caves are nature's most mysterious creation and full of hidden secrets, adventurous paths and a fascinating history. In ancient times, caves were used as a shelter, for burial, or for religious activities or traditions. Some of these caves will leave you spellbound with their interesting formations, caverns, and stalactites inside. Here are five famous caves around the world.
Reed Flute Cave in China
Located near Guilin in China, the Reed Flute Cave is well-known for its interesting limestone formations, and the stunning patterns of stalactites and stalagmites. Reed grasses that grow outside the cave are used for making flutes and pipes. Also called "The Palace of Natural Arts," this 600,000-year-old cave houses beautiful bridges and ponds with ancient eighth century BCE inscriptions displayed on the cave walls.
Cave of the Crystals in Mexico
Popularly known for its magnificent selenite crystal formations, the Cave of the Crystals is one of the most famous caves in the world. Discovered in the year 2000 by Juan and Pedro Sanchez, the largest crystal identified here was four meters in diameter with a length of 12 meters. The inside of the cave has an unnatural temperature of 50-58 degree celsius.
Fingal's Cave in Scotland
Located in Scotland's Staffa Island, Fingal's Cave is an incredible sea cave that is popularly known for its unique hexagonal basalt columns that originated through volcanic eruptions. The cave is naturally shaped like a cathedral and it was named after the protagonist in James Macpherson's book The Fingal of Ossian. The cave can be reached after climbing some steep steps assisted by a railing.
Skocjan Caves in Slovenia
Located in the Kras Plateau of South-West Slovenia, Skocjan Caves are one of the fewest caves in the world to get the UNESCO World Heritage tag. The caves are aesthetically pleasing due to the amazing formations of stalagmites and stalactites. They are one of the largest underwater canyons in the world and were believed to be used as a shelter during prehistoric times.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves in New Zealand
Waitomo Caves in New Zealand are one of the most interesting and magical caves in the world due to the light-emitting tiny glowworms similar in size to a mosquito. The cave's ceilings are full of these glowworms, exclusively found in New Zealand. These caves were formed more than 30 million years back and house a deep limestone shaft called Tomo.
