Buzz
Caves often have a musty, muddy, and damp atmosphere. They may also be rich with wildlife, stretch as wide as a canyon, or be filled with icy waters. Caves can be made from marble, crystal, or basalt. They are far more than just simple holes in the earth; many are truly extraordinary.
10. Eisriesenwelt Cave
Located in Austria, the Eisriesenwelt Cave is the largest ice cave in the world, stretching nearly 50 kilometers (30 miles). Its name means “World of the Ice Giants.” Discovered in 1879, the cave consists of numerous interconnected chambers that allow airflow throughout the entire system. Because of this, the caves can be quite cold, so visitors should wear winter clothing. The ice formations display various colors due to the minerals present.
The caves sit above Werfen Village in Salzburg. Tourists are given lamps for their visit, and at times, the ice formations are illuminated with magnesium lamps to create a striking visual effect. Only part of the cave’s extensive length is accessible to the public.
9. Fingal’s Cave
Staffa Island, an uninhabited landmass off the coast of Scotland, is home to several remarkable sea caves, with Fingal’s Cave being the most renowned. It is also known as Uamh Binh, or the Cave of Melody.
Fingal’s Cave stretches 70 meters (227 feet) and is composed entirely of interlocking hexagonal basalt columns, similar to those at the Giants’ Causeway. These formations were likely created by ancient lava flows and the turbulent sea. In 1829, composer Felix Mendelssohn visited the cave, and the sounds of the waves within inspired his famous Hebrides Overture. However, the visit wasn’t entirely pleasant for Mendelssohn, as he suffered from seasickness.
8. Blue Grotto
The Grotto Azzura, located in Capri, is the island's most iconic tourist destination. This half-submerged sea cave is bathed in a surreal blue light. During Roman times, it was believed to be inhabited by nereids, sirens, and devils.
The captivating blue glow is caused by sunlight that filters through a small opening near the water's surface. Anything submerged in the water takes on a silvery hue due to the bubbles beneath the surface. The ideal time to experience the Blue Grotto is in the early afternoon, when sunlight directly illuminates the entrance of the cave.
7. Wisteria Tunnel
The Kawachi Fuji Gardens feature a stunning wisteria tunnel, showcasing around 150 plants from at least 20 different species. The blooms appear in shades of purple, white, blue, violet-blue, and pink. The ideal time to visit is from late April to mid-May, during the “Fuji Matsuri” or “Wisteria Festival.” The peak bloom occurs at the end of April. Visiting outside this period means the wisterias won't be in bloom, and the garden might seem like a “disheartening mass of lifeless branches,” as noted by Atlas Obscura.
6. Orda Cave
Ordinskaya, or the Orda Cave, holds the title of the longest underwater cave in Russia and is the world’s only known underwater gypsum cave. Stretching nearly 5 kilometers (3 miles), its crystal-clear water allows divers to see up to 45 meters (150 feet) ahead. Remarkably, the cave has no currents.
The Orda Cave is not a place where you want to get lost. New passages and smaller chambers continue to be discovered. The surface water temperature is a frigid -20° Celsius (-4° F), and any surface you touch inside the cave may easily break off. Cave diver Lamar Hires has reported seeing pieces of gypsum as large as cars and buses fall from the walls and ceiling.
5. Waitomo Caves
The Waitomo Caves are home to a species of glowworm native to New Zealand, Arachnocampa luminosa. These glowworms emit light to attract insects, trapping them in their sticky silk threads. Thousands of these glowworms inhabit the caves, making it one of New Zealand’s North Island’s most popular tourist spots. The Glowworm Grotto is explored by boat under a ceiling illuminated by countless glowing worms. The upper section of the cave features the Organ Loft and Catacombs, while the lower level contains the Cathedral Chamber, renowned for its exceptional acoustics, which have been praised by opera stars worldwide.
4. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River
The Subterranean River, also known as the St. Paul Underground River, is located in Palawan, Philippines. It became a national park in 1971. This 8-kilometer (5-mile) river flows directly into the sea, passing through a cave that showcases some of the most stunning limestone formations in the world. Some of these formations resemble animals, mushrooms, and even human figures. On January 28, 2012, the river was recognized as one of the new Seven Wonders of Nature.
Only 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) of the river are open to tourists. To journey the full length of the river, a special permit is required.
3. Krubera Cave
In 2001, the Krubera Cave, also known as Voronja or Voronya Cave, was recognized as the deepest cave on Earth. By October 2004, scientists had measured its depth at 2,080 meters (6,800 feet). The cave is situated in Abkhazia, a region that is claimed by Georgia but considers itself an independent republic.
To reach the cave’s lowest depths, spelunkers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem plunged through water just above freezing. During their exploration, they faced a flash flood that trapped them for 30 hours. At depths exceeding 300 meters (1,000 feet), they discovered several life forms, including cave pseudoscorpions, parasitic worms, and transparent fish—living in nearly freezing conditions.
2. Lubang Nasib Bagus
The Lubang Nasib Bagus, also known as the Good Luck Cave, is renowned for housing the Sarawak Chamber—the largest cave chamber on the planet. Located in Gunung Mulu National Park in Borneo, the chamber has an estimated ceiling height of 100 meters (320 feet), with maximum dimensions of 700 x 400 meters (2,300 x 1,300 feet). The chamber is so immense that it could fit eight jumbo jets along its length, and its size could accommodate 7,500 buses (though accessing it is no easy feat). The caverns within the Good Luck Cave were formed by water flow as far back as five million years ago. Other caves found in Lubang Nasib include the Cave of Winds and the Cave of Happiness, among others.
1. The Marble Cathedral
The Cuevas de Marmol, or the Marble Cathedral, is a stunning cave system carved into the waters of Chile’s General Carrera Lake, which straddles the Chile-Argentina border. Visitors must embark on quite a journey: flying from the capital to the city of Coyhaique, followed by a 320-kilometer (200-mile) drive south to the lake. However, the effort is well worth it for those who are greeted by the lake’s crystal-clear waters and the marble walls adorned with intricate patterns. Access to the caves is exclusively by boat.
The cave was sculpted 6,000 years ago as waves relentlessly pounded against the calcium carbonate. The water’s hue shifts depending on factors such as weather, water levels, and the time of year.
