Many would have thought that caves are dark and dingy places filled with bats. However, there exists caves that are astoundingly beautiful and these nature wonderlands have attracted millions of tourists who flock to witness their breathtaking interiors. In this issue, Top 10 of Malaysia shares its list of the ten most beautiful caves in the world. These amazing artwork of nature are thousands of years old and have been photographed countless times over the years.
Benagil Sea Cave
A small fishing village on the Sourthern Cove of the Algarve in Portugal, Benagil is famous for its breathtakingly beautiful sea cave with amazing rock formations. Benagil is situated along the southern coast of the central Algarve and located between the popular tourist destinations of Praia do Carvoeiro and Armação de Pêra. Tourists could enjoy the warm summer weather on the beach or explore the caves and rock formations when they visit Benagil. Visitors could also opt to hire a Stand up Paddle Board to take them into the cave along the Algarve coastline or just travel by boat to the spectacular destination.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Located in southern New Mexico and in the Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns National Park contains eighty tree caves. The third longest and most well-known cave is Carlsbad Cavern and it is home to three hundred limestone caves that were developed over the course of nearly 250 million years. One of the caverns is called Big Room and it is almost 4,000 feet wide and 255 feet high. It is also the fifth-largest underground chamber in the United States. Visitors could also get the opportunity to watch Mexican free-tailed bats at the entrance of Carlsbad Cavern and it is known as one of the main attractions.
Kungur Caves
Kungur ice cave is known to be a monument of nature. It was also a finalist of the “Seven Wonders of Russia” competition. Situated in the north-eastern outskirts of the Kungur city, it is a symbol of Kungur City and the cave is filled with ice crystals and hoarfrost. The cave is the fifth longest among other gypsum caves in Russia. There are numerous underwater lakes, organ pipes, stalactites and stalagmites in the cave. Tourists are able to participate in a sightseeing tour in the cave and also excursion with a laser show.
Mammoth Cave National Park
Established in 1941, the Mammoth Cave National Park is home to the longest known cave system and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve. Located in Kentucky, it is one of the oldest tour attraction sites in North America. The cave is filled with wide chambers and many labyrinths. There are tours for visitors who visit the Rainbow Dome, Snowball Room, Crystal Lake and the Bottomless Pit. Visitors could also participate in other activities at the park such as hiking, camping, horseback riding, fishing and even kayaking.
Marble Caves
Known for their colourful swirling patterns, the Marble Caves are also known as Cuevas de Mármol and they are located on General Carrera Lake in Patagonian Andes in Chile, South America. The marble-liked beautiful caves are found on waters and are only accessible by boat. For more than six thousand years, the current of lakes send the waves splashing onto the solid marbles and transform them into today’s smooth formation. When the water reflects light, the cave appears cerulean in colour. Visitors could only access the caves by boat or kayak.
Postojna Cave
Known as one of the most captivating caves in the world, Postojna Cave is the largest show cave in Europe. The cave system is twenty-four kilometres long and visitors could board an underground train to explore the cave. The train travels around 3.7 kilometers and it is a double track cave railway. Pretty Murano-glass chandeliers hang from the ceilings of the cave’s dance hall. Visitors could also meet inhabitants of new animal species known as “baby dragons” or olms in the cave. The Predjama Castle is also a fascinating attraction and history lovers should definitely pay it a visit.
Reed Flute Cave
Reed Flute Cave is a cave with a scenic spot in Guilin, China. The cave is 240 meters deep and 500 meters long. Reed Flute cave has various beautiful dewy rock formations, stalagmites, stalactites, stone pillars and stone curtains. The cave is also called “The Palace of Natural Art” and its interior is filled with rainbow-coloured lights and arrays of natural formations. Some people even believe that the formations resemble mythical creatures and natural creations. Visitors often feel that they are taking a walk on a path in wonderland. When you step out of the cave, you will notice reeds growing everywhere. These reeds could be used to make flutes.
The Blue Grotto
The Blue Grotto in Capri, Italy is a sea cave that is sixty meters long, twenty-five meters wide and around a meter high. The mesmerising bright azure colour of water in the cave is caused by sunlight that enters the cavern. Sunlight enters through an opening underwater that is under the cave’s mouth. When visitors travel to enter the cave, they have to get on small rowboats and each boat could ferry four passengers. The skipper would sing traditional Neapolitan folk songs to visitors while rowing the boat around the cavern.
Vatnajökull Glacier Ice Cave
Also known as Anaconda Ice Cave and Crystal Ice Cave, Vatnajökull Glacier Ice Cave is filled with crystal blue ice. It is the largest ice cave in Iceland. Before reaching the cave, a tour guide would assist visitors to put on crampons and a helmet as everyone would require to do some glacier hiking. The ice cave is extremely beautiful but visitors are required to only enter with an experienced glacier guide. The interior of the cave is sapphire blue and mesmerising, with icicles hanging from the ceiling.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Located in New Zealand, Waitomo Glowworm Caves could be accessed by a boat ride through the glowworm grotto. The marvellous sight of thousands of glowworms would leave visitors speechless. The cave resembles a serene starry wonderland, thanks to the presence of glowworms. Visitors could visit two levels of the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, the upper level is filled with astounding cave formations while stream passages, glowworms and the cathedral are found at the lower level.